Collection points are currently closed. Thank you for donating!

The next collection will be in November 2023, in the meantime you can post your bags to us, or donate online.

Missed dropping your bags off to Bunnings?

Mail your donation to: PO Box 345 Virginia QLD 4014

How it Works

It’s in the Bag is one of Australia’s most loved Christmas appeals, where we encourage everyday Australians to put together bags filled with essential items, and maybe some everyday luxuries, to donate to someone in need for Christmas.

Collection points are now closed and your incredible donations are being distributed to over 3,000 charities nationwide. We want to ensure women, girls and those who menstruate, who are waking up in a domestic violence refuge or homeless shelter on Christmas feel a little bit of love and hope.

Resources

IITB Social Media Tile - Adult Bag Checklist

IITB Social Media Tile - Adult Bag Checklist

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IITB Social Media Tile - Teen Bag Checklist

IITB Social Media Tile - Teen Bag Checklist

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IITB Social Media Tile - Mum & Bub Bag Checklist

IITB Social Media Tile - Mum & Bub Bag Checklist

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IITB Adult Bag Label - Pink

IITB Adult Bag Label - Pink

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IITB Teen Bag Label - Yellow

IITB Teen Bag Label - Yellow

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IITB Mum & Bub Bag Label - Purple

IITB Mum & Bub Bag Label - Purple

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How your donation helps

Kathy was tragically shot in the hip during a domestic violence incident. As a result, she struggled physically and mentally, she had to relearn to walk, and felt she wasn't worthy.

Ever so slowly Kathy started rebuilding her life and it was at this point in time she received an It's in the Bag.

Kathy said the bag and the note inside changed her life forever. For the first time in her life, she felt she was worthy, and it gave her the dignity she deserved. 

What you can donate

Wanting to start putting together an It's in the Bag for 2023? You can pack an adult, teen or mum and bub bag to help someone in need for Christmas. Each bag has a different list of essentials you can find below. 

By putting together an It's in the Bag you're making Christmas brighter for someone in a domestic violence refuge.

Adult Bag

Period Products, Shampoo, Conditioner, Toothbrush, Toothpaste, Deodorant (roll-on preferred) & Soap or Body Wash

Optional: extra special items for an adult

Teen Bag

Period Products for small bodies, Shampoo, Conditioner, Toothbrush, Toothpaste, Deodorant (roll-on preferred) & Soap or Body Wash

Optional: extra special items for a teen

Mum & Bub Bag

Maternity Period Products, Shampoo, Conditioner, Toothbrush, Toothpaste, Deodorant (roll-on preferred), Soap or Body Wash, Newborn Nappies, Breast Pads, Baby Shampoo, Baby Soap/Wash, Disposable Nappy Bags, Baby Wipes, Dummy, Nappy Rash Cream

Optional: extra special items for a mum & bub

Where do my donations go?

Baby girl in handbag, surrounded by products donated to Share the Dignity

A mum and bub bag contains all the essentials for a new mum to help take care of her baby, and herself.

Help a Mum in Need this Mother's Day

Many of the mums who receive our bags can barely afford the basic essentials for themselves due to escaping domestic violence, let alone the essentials for their newborn.

These bags take a little bit of the pressure off so they can enjoy the first moments with their precious bub.

A mum and bub bag is so expensive to put together so it’s no surprise we never get enough bags to help the women in need.

We need your help this Mother's Day to raise $100,000 so we can pack an additional 500 bags for new mums in need.

#ItsintheBag

Don't forget to share your amazing It's in the Bag donations on your socials!

FAQs

When is #ItsInTheBag 2022 and where can I donate?

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#ItsInTheBag is Share the Dignity's annual event where we encourage every day Australians to donate a bag to someone in need for Christmas. The bags are filled with essential items and are distributed to 3,000 Australian charities that have registered with us. 

Collections for 2022 will be open from November 18-27.

If you would still like to donate outside of our collection dates you have two options:

  1. Mail your donation directly to us:
    Share the Dignity
    PO Box 345
    Virginia QLD 4014
  2. Sponsor a bag through our website and we will pack it for you.

Where can I drop off my bags?

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Collection points for #ItsInTheBag are closed and will reopen November 18-27 2022.

We are a primarily volunteer-run organisation, and unfortunately do not have the volunteer power to arrange collection outside these times.

You can post your bags to us: Share the Dignity, PO Box 345, Sandgate QLD 4017.

What can't go inside bags/what are prohibited items?

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Unfortunately, we cannot accept these items:

  • Used or open items
  • Pharmaceutical items (including condoms, throat lozenges, medication and vitamins)
  • Food and drinks of any kind (including tea, gum, mints)
  • Sharp objects (including knives, razors and scissors)
  • Loose tampons and pads
  • Used clothing (including bras)

Nail clippers and sewing kits are fine, so long as they are new and unopened.

Please remember:

  • The bag itself needs to be in good condition but can be a pre-loved handbag or backpack
  • All donations must be brand new, still sealed and in their original packaging
  • Separated bulk pack items must be individually sealed
  • All donations must comply with TGA packaging standards 
  • Handmade items must be brand new, not used, (packaged if possible) with a note saying ‘handmade/new by [name]’.

What goes inside Adult bags?

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Essentials for Adult bags

  • Period products (pads, tampons, reusable pads, period-proof underwear and menstrual cups). 
  • Shampoo (full size preferred)
  • Conditioner (full size preferred)
  • Toothbrush
  • Toothpaste
  • Deodorant (roll-on preferred)
  • Soap or body wash

Don't include

  • Used or open items
  • Pharmaceutical items (including condoms, throat lozenges, medication and vitamins)
  • Food and drinks of any kind (including tea, gum, mints)
  • Sharp objects (including razors and scissors)
  • Loose tampons and pads
  • Used clothing (including bras)

Nail clippers and sewing kits are fine, so long as they are new and unopened.

Please remember

  • The bag itself needs to be in good condition but can be a pre-loved handbag or backpack
  • All donations must be brand new, still sealed and in their original packaging
  • Please do not separate out bulk packs
  • All donations must comply with packaging TGA code of practice
  • All handmade items must be brand new and not used

What goes inside Teen bags?

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Essentials for Teen bags

  • Period products suitable for young bodies (pads, tampons, reusable pads, period-proof underwear and menstrual cups).
  • Shampoo (full size preferred)
  • Conditioner (full size preferred)
  • Toothbrush
  • Toothpaste
  • Deodorant (roll-on preferred)
  • Soap or body wash

Unfortunately, we cannot accept these items:

  • Used or open items
  • Pharmaceutical items (including condoms, throat lozenges, medication and vitamins)
  • Food and drinks of any kind (including tea, gum, mints)
  • Sharp objects (including razors and scissors)
  • Loose tampons and pads 
  • Used clothing (including bras)

Nail clippers and sewing kits are fine, so long as they are new and unopened.

Please remember

  • The bag itself needs to be in good condition but can be a pre-loved handbag or backpack
  • All donations must be brand new, still sealed and in their original packaging
  • Please do not separate out bulk packs
  • All donations must comply with packaging TGA code of practice
  • All handmade items must be brand new and not used

What goes inside Mum & bub bags?

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Essentials for Mum & bub bags

  • Period products suitable for mums (Maternity pads)
  • Shampoo (full size preferred)
  • Conditioner (full size preferred)
  • Toothbrush & toothpaste
  • Deodorant (roll-on preferred)
  • Soap or body wash
  • Breast pads
  • Newborn nappies
  • Baby Shampoo & Conditioner
  • Baby soap or wash
  • Disposable nappy bags
  • Baby wipes
  • Dummies
  • Nappy rash cream

Please identify a Mum & bub bag by using a purple bag tag or ribbon

Unfortunately, we cannot accept these items:

  • Used or open items
  • Pharmaceutical items (including condoms, throat lozenges, medication and vitamins)
  • Food and drinks of any kind (including tea, gum, mints)
  • Sharp objects (including razors and scissors)
  • Loose tampons and pads
  • Used clothing (including bras)

Nail clippers and sewing kits are fine, so long as they are new and unopened.

Please remember

  • The bag itself needs to be in good condition but can be a pre-loved handbag or backpack
  • All donations must be brand new, still sealed and in their original packaging
  • Please do not separate out bulk packs
  • All donations must comply with packaging TGA code of practice
  • All handmade items must be brand new and not used

 

I have an open packet/item, can I donate this?

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No. All donations must be brand new, still sealed in their original packaging and must comply with standards set by the Therapeutic Goods Administration, particularly around packing and labelling.

Pads, tampons must be in brand new, unopened packaging.

Handmade items must be brand new and not used, in a package with instructions, where it was made, by who and use of product information.

Can I donate used or lightly used clothes (including bras)?

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Please don't include these items in your bags. You can reach out to your local charities (like domestic violence refuges) to see if they would like a donation. Find your nearest on Ask Izzy.

I have a lot of bags to donate, what should I do?

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If you have a large donation, you can still take them to Bunnings Store between 18-27 November 2022. Don’t worry, we have our volunteers emptying the large collection boxes multiple times a day so they will fit!

Why do you accept other aerosols when you prefer roll-on deodorant?

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We prefer roll-on deodorant as some of the charities we work with prefer them as there is no risk of chroming and this causing harm. However, this is not all charities. Which is why we ask you to please choose roll-on deodorant if you can, but if you want to include impulse or a spray we will pass them on to charities and let them make the choice when they hand out the bags.

Are hotel toiletries okay to donate?

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Full-sized items are preferred so they will last longer for the recipient, however, hotel-sized items will still be accepted.

What if I accidentally donate something prohibited?

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Our wonderful volunteers (Sheroes) inspect the bag to ensure all the essentials there. If we come across any prohibited items, they are removed and offered separately to registered charities, if the items are safe for them to accept.

Can someone come and collect bags from us?

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As a predominantly volunteer-based charity, Share the Dignity doesn't have the facilities, resources or Shero-power to organise collections directly.

Do my donations go to someone locally? 

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We are a national charity, so depending on what the charities have requested, most donations will stay in the state but if donations are needed in other parts of Australia and we have surplus to share, we would ship them to where they are needed.

I have empty bags or spare items to donate, can I donate them too?

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We will accept empty bags. The bags can be new or used. If you are using a pre-loved handbag, we ask that it is in great condition, clean and no clear signs of use.

Feel free to add other brand-new items into the collection bins that can be used for other bags, we are often short on essentials.

I've missed the collections at Bunnings, what should I do?

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Please post your items to us: Share the Dignity, PO Box 345, Virginia QLD 4014.

As a predominantly volunteer-based charity, Share the Dignity doesn't have the facilities, resources or volunteer power to organise collections directly.

Can I donate reusable items like period undies, menstrual cups and handmade pads?

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Absolutely! They need to be brand new, in packaging that meets the TGA guidelines for menstrual cups.

The items can be open but MUST NOT BE USED, even lightly. 

This means for:

  • Period undies there must be tags on or still in their boxes
  • Menstrual cups must be packaging and instructions that include information on Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS)
  • Reusable pads must be packaged and include
    • The name of your product
    • Instructions for use
    • List of products used to create the item
    • The name and address of the manufacturer or the sponsor
    • The batch number or serial number for the product contained within the pack
    • If your product comes in multiple sizes, the size of the unit contained in the pack

Are bags that are donated checked or looked at before being donated?

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Once collected, all bags are checked by our volunteers (Sheroes) before being taken to the charities. We remove any prohibited items, but the bags remain fairly intact from how they were donated otherwise. Removed items are offered separately to registered charities if the items are safe for them to accept.

Can I become a collection point?

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If you'd like to, you can become a local collection point. We won't be advertising any collection points outside of Bunnings stores, but we know so many of you are working hard to collect too! All you need to do is make sure all the bags you've collected are donated to any Bunnings store before close of business, on the last day of the collection points being open.