From November 16, Share the Dignity will be at Bunnings Warehouse Mittagong where Highlanders can donate essential hygiene items as part of 'It's in the Bag' Christmas donation drive.

Share the Dignity assists homeless women and victims of domestic violence.

Last year, the team at Bunnings Warehouse Mittagong collected 325 bags while more than 98,000 bags were dropped off at Bunnings stores across the country.

Bunnings Warehouses across the country will be collecting donations, and as the need grows for essential sanitary items, the charity is aiming to collect 120,000 bags in 2018.

Nearly 173,000 females across Australia sought help from homelessness services in 2017.

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Items can be donated at Bunnings from November 16 until December 2.

With the most ambitious target to date, Share the Dignity founder Rochelle Courtenay, said they were depending on community kindness.

"Christmas is such a special time, but we tend to forget there's many people who need our help. Donating a bag filled with hygienic essentials is a small but extremely impactful gesture that people can take part in", she said. 

Finding food and a safe space to sleep are some of the many challenges homeless women face, but the lack of sanitary products is why Share the Dignity has worked to eliminate period poverty in Australia since 2015. 

Some of the essential items required include sanitary items, shampoo, conditioner, toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap and deodorant.

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