Women and children experiencing homelessness in Mandurah are about to have their winter worries eased, thanks to 49 handbags donated by the Mandurah Dental Nursing Association.
Of course, handbags are useful items, but what made these ones especially valuable is that the dental nursing students filled each bag with sanitary items, deodorant, perfume, toothbrushes and toothpaste, and more.
“All of us have been aware of the number of homeless people and especially women and children in Perth, and we just thought coming into winter, you know, there’s a lot of people who would need warm clothes and things like that to get through,” dental nursing lecturer Emily Van Rooyen said.
“Particularly, we are into empowering women… the women who didn’t have their essential needs covered, for like sanitary products and things like that, we thought we would get some packs together and put them in bags so they could actually keep them with them, just to give them a little bit of dignity and self-worth.”
The nursing students, all local to Mandurah and Rockingham, chose Peel Community Kitchen to disperse their donations to those in need.
“A lot of these ladies are mums, and they advertised at their kids’ schools,” Ms Van Rooyen said.
The delivery to Peel Community Kitchen will also include warm blankets, kids toys, books and clothing, women's bras, undies and socks, towels, jumpers, babies’ and maternity clothes.
