For the fourth consecutive year, Kiwanis Sydney members and friends gathered during our November meeting to participate in the “It’s in the Bag” initiative. This project has become a cornerstone of our end-of-year service, driven by the goal of providing comfort and dignity to vulnerable women and girls living in refuges or facing hardship. The core idea is simple yet profound: to ensure that those doing it tough know that someone in their community is thinking of them and truly cares about their well-being during the holiday season.
This year was a massive success, resulting in 172 handbags packed and ready for distribution. Each bag was carefully filled with high-quality personal care essentials, including:
- Shampoo and conditioner
- Toothbrushes and toothpaste
- Deodorant and soap
- Sanitary items and tissues
To make these gifts even more special, we included a personal note and “extra” items such as jewelry to provide a touch of joy on Christmas Day. Once the bags were complete, our members and friends delivered them to various Bunnings stores, where they were collected by Share the Dignity for final distribution to those in need.
The packing night was a highlight of our quarter, filled with laughter and a genuine “Christmas spirit” as everyone worked together to assemble the bags. We owe a special thank you to Cathy for her incredible efforts in organising the purchase lists and managing the inventory. We also want to recognise Cathy, Emily, Tara, and Angelique for their time and effort in delivering the completed bags to the collection points. It is through this collective effort that we are able to make such a tangible difference in our local community.
