A national charity now attracting international attention through Oprah Winfrey has a little-known history in Sandgate, where founder Rochelle Courtenay once ran Share the Dignity from her family home before the organisation moved into its first office in neighbouring Brighton.
Read: Sandgate Museum Turns To Community To Help Secure Its Future
The charity’s local beginnings are receiving renewed attention as its annual It’s in the Bag Christmas appeal prepares to collect donations across Australia from 6 to 22 November 2026. The campaign encourages people to fill bags with essential personal care products for women and girls experiencing homelessness or spending Christmas in domestic violence refuges.
A community collection that became a charity
Share the Dignity began in 2015 after Ms Courtenay read about the difficulties faced by women experiencing homelessness who could not afford basic menstrual products.
The charity’s founder explained that the issue prompted her to seek donations from her local Queensland community. She wanted to collect period products for nearby women’s shelters, turning an initial community collection into an organisation that would eventually operate nationally.
The early initiative addressed a basic problem that often received little public attention. Women without reliable access to menstrual products could face difficult choices between purchasing essential items and paying for other necessities.
What makes the organisation’s history particularly relevant to Sandgate is where its early operations were based. Its 2019 annual report specifically identifies Ms Courtenay’s Sandgate home as the charity’s original workplace.
The report describes a small operation that gradually outgrew its domestic setting. Ms Courtenay’s kitchen table had become inadequate as the team expanded and more people were needed to support the organisation’s work.
From a Sandgate home to Brighton
The next chapter in the charity’s development took place just across the suburb boundary. According to the 2019 annual report, Ms Courtenay’s home served as Share the Dignity’s office until January 2019. The organisation then moved into premises at 12 Paul Street, Brighton, where staff established a dedicated workplace.
The report describes the new premises as having pink walls and desks installed for the growing team. It also records a substantial staffing increase, from two employees at the beginning of the financial year to ten by its conclusion.
The move marked a practical change in how the charity operated. Staff, interns and volunteers could work together outside Ms Courtenay’s home, providing more room for the organisation’s expanding activities.
The historical connection is significant for both suburbs. Sandgate was the original operating base, while Brighton became home to the charity’s first dedicated office. The 2019 report documents that particular period in the organisation’s development. It does not establish that the Brighton premises remain its current office, so the address should be understood as a historical location rather than a present-day destination.
A local beginning with national reach
Share the Dignity has since grown well beyond its original community collection. Its official website reports more than 2,500 volunteers and more than 3,000 charity partners, alongside millions of period products distributed across Australia. The organisation also reports more than 1.1 million It’s in the Bag donations collected through its work with Bunnings.
The scale of the organisation’s activities reflects how a local initiative developed into a national charity. Its work now includes period-product collections, Christmas care packages, advocacy and initiatives aimed at improving access to essential products. One recent development has also brought an internationally recognised name into the charity’s Christmas campaign.
How Oprah became part of the story
Oprah Winfrey’s involvement is a recent chapter, rather than the starting point of the charity’s history. Ms Courtenay met Winfrey during the television personality’s visit to Australia in 2025. According to reporting about the encounter, Winfrey expressed an interest in the It’s in the Bag initiative and later packed a bag for the 2026 campaign.
The charity’s October 2026 podcast episode also documents Ms Courtenay opening the bag prepared by Winfrey. It describes the contribution as a personal It’s in the Bag donation intended for an Australian woman or girl.
The involvement has generated considerable attention, but the central purpose of the campaign remains unchanged. Donations are intended to provide practical essentials, regardless of who packs them.
Why the work remains relevant
The need for access to basic menstrual products is also reflected in the charity’s national research. Its 2024 Bloody Big Survey received 153,620 responses. The findings reported that 64 per cent of respondents had struggled to afford period products, while 56 per cent had missed work because of their periods.
These figures describe survey respondents, not a representative measurement of every Australian or residents of Sandgate and Brighton. The research nevertheless provides insight into the experiences reported by a substantial number of people who participated.
The organisation continues to use the findings to support its advocacy for better access to menstrual products in schools, workplaces and other public settings.
How Sandgate residents can support the appeal
The 2026 It’s in the Bag collection provides a practical way for residents to participate. Bunnings is the charity’s official nationwide collection partner, with donation points scheduled to operate from 6 to 22 November. One verified nearby option is Bunnings Virginia, at 1836 Sandgate Road, Virginia.
Donors can choose between three bag categories:
- Adult bags: Period products, shampoo, conditioner, toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant and soap or body wash.
- Teen bags: Similar personal care essentials, with period products suitable for smaller bodies. These bags should carry a yellow tag or ribbon.
- Mum and Bub bags: Maternity period products, toiletries, newborn nappies, breast pads, baby wipes and other listed baby essentials. These bags require a purple tag or ribbon.
The charity asks donors to use a new bag or one in excellent condition. All donated products must be new, sealed and in their original packaging. Opened products, food, drinks and used clothing are among the items that cannot be accepted.
People who cannot visit a Bunnings collection point can also sponsor a bag through the charity’s website. The organisation provides instructions for individuals, schools and workplaces interested in organising their own packing parties.
Read: Sandgate Backs Large-Scale Container Recycling Effort
Donations are sorted and distributed through the charity’s network of partner organisations. Share the Dignity says it tries to distribute bags locally where possible but may reallocate donations between areas according to need. A bag handed in at a local store therefore cannot be guaranteed to remain in the immediate district.
Residents can check the official packing lists, collection arrangements and campaign information at https://sharethedignity.org.au/ before preparing their donation.
Published 5-November-2026
