Young Moree woman Jess Duncan has come up with a simple, yet effective way to make use of often unused hotel toiletries, while at the same time helping to improve the standard of living for local people in need.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Last week Ms Duncan, Beyond Empathy Moree project manager and a board member of Pius X Aboriginal Corporation, launched Donate for Dignity – a project aimed at distributing new and unopened toiletries, mostly from hotels or motels, to local charities which would be passed on to people in the Moree region who are living in poverty or going through a hard time.
Ms Duncan came up with the idea while in Dubbo for a work conference during National Anti-Poverty Week.
“I wanted to do something to make a difference in the lives of people who were affected by poverty, hardship or homelessness,” Ms Duncan said.
“I was taking a shower when it occurred to me that something as simple as maintaining one’s hygiene gives you a sense of dignity, self-worth and self-confidence.”
The idea of Donate for Dignity is for people to collect the toiletries they don’t use during stays at hotels or motels, bring them home to Moree and drop them off at a collection point, where they will be packed and distributed to various local charities.
“It’s as simple as grabbing [hotel toiletries], putting them in your bag and bringing them home,” Ms Duncan said.
“With the Christmas season coming up, people do tend to travel, so I’m hoping people will think of this and bring their toiletries home.”
Collecting hotel toiletries means that people don’t need to go out of their way to buy products to donate, as most of us already have them lying around.
While minimum effort is required for people to donate to the cause, Ms Duncan believes it could have a maximum impact.
“We have all travelled to a motel or hotel and either left the complimentary toiletries or brought them home only to be not used – so why not give them a purpose,” Ms Duncan said. “These toiletries, which are so often overlooked or forgotten, can make a big difference to someone who is going through a difficult situation.
“Something as simple as feeling clean and dignified can have a big impact on someone’s life. There are then flow-on effects to mental health and how you present yourself, which could have positive impacts in terms of employment and good health.”
Donations can be left at the Aboriginal Employment Strategy at 207 Balo Street Moree. For more information on what items will be accepted, go to the Donate for Dignity Facebook page.
