The Gin Gin Neighbourhood Centre is calling for donations for its Share the Dignity drive, with a number of community members pitching in to help in more ways than one.
When Gin Gin paramedic Mel Bayntun heard the centre was looking for bags to fill with items for the campaign, she knew what she could do to help.
Share the Dignity works to make a real, on-the-ground difference in the lives of women and girls experiencing homelessness, fleeing domestic violence or doing it tough by providing bags filled with essential items.
Getting to work right away, Mel has donated her time and fabric to sew more than 20 bags for individuals and families experiencing hardship.
If this wasn’t enough, Mel then continued to rally together her favourite online stores and local community for donations that will be included in the emergency relief hygiene bags.
It’s not the first time the local woman has used her sewing skills for the good of others.
At the start of this year Mel had just finished whipping up the last of 540 face masks that she then donated to the community.
Mel said the opportunity to now be involved in the Share the Dignity campaign was one she jumped at and, knowing that everyone experienced their own individual struggles, she wanted to again do what she could to help.
“I got involved as after sewing the masks I was talking to the team at the Neighbourhood Centre and they said they were looking for bags for their Share the Dignity drive,” Mel said.
“Straight away I started cutting out fabric and sewing a whole heap of bags, and then did drawstring bags for the men as it is not always just women who are in the need.
“I do this because it is all about being part of a community, we all have struggles and if you can do one small thing whether it be buying one tube of toothpaste and donating it to help, it will mean the world to someone.”
Mel said whether you donated a little or a lot did not matter.
“If 20 people bought one thing each to be donated, that would see bags being filled – it is all about sharing the load,” she said.
“It is about little hands making big work!”
Other local businesses have also supported the initiative including the Gin Gin Alliance Pharmacy staff who have donated essential hygiene items to go inside the bags.
Once filled, the bags will go directly to people experiencing homelessness, domestic violence survivors, those impacted by natural disaster and people who are struggling to afford essential items.
You can donate items for the Share the Dignity drive at the Neighbourhood Centre, located at 4 Dear Street, Gin Gin.
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