This year I've packed a bag for a local woman in need to make her feel special at Christmas time. And I picked a nice big bag so I had room for a few extra pieces for her.
What's In My #ItsInTheBag Donation For 2021:
The past couple of years I've done a mums and bubs bag to help out a new mum in need. This year, I decided to go back to basics and just fill up a similar bag to what I did the first time I donated in 2018. This bag will be given to a local lady in need at Christmas time. Maybe she's homeless, maybe she's fleeing violence, maybe she's just having a hard time making ends meet and has reached out to a charity for help. Whoever she is I hope that this bag helps her see she's loved and worthy, and brings her a little joy at Christmas time.
This bag has all the basic essential hygiene items and a few extras. Things like tissues, a face mask, wipes, hand sanitiser, hand cream, a necklace, a journal and some pens. And I hope whoever receives this likes coconut, as you can see I ended up with a bit of a coconut theme going on! Almost everything was on sale. I stock up in advance, and don't shop all at once. Half price sales at Woolworths on beauty products are good for this, to add a little extra to the grocery shop, and the bag itself was a $8 bargain at Kmart with lots of room for everything.
What To Put In Your Bag:
Other Ways You Can Participate:
If you're in Australia:
- Don't have time to shop, or ideas for what to put in a bag? (It kicks off this weekend!) You can sponsor a bag on the Share the Dignity website.
- If you can't make it to Bunnings between the 19th and 28th November, why not see if any local charities near you are collecting anything similar? A thoughtful bag of essential hygiene items is likely to be well received. Maybe your local library is already collecting such items, or your local food bank would appreciate some donations.
- Maybe you just can't stretch to something like this at Christmas time - there's always the sanitary items donation drive later in the year.
If you're outside Australia:
I've seen this idea by other names in other countries too - blessing bags, kindness bags, etc. You can research and see if there is anything similar where you live.
More Ideas For What To Put In Your Bag:
I'm not sure how many times you need to do something each year before it becomes tradition - but I'm glad I can do this for the fourth year in a row and that I have the avenue on this blog to share the donation drive with a wider audience. It makes me so happy when friends or family want to include things in the bag or have even put their own bag together to donate. My mum helped me with this bag, the little pouch was a great addition!
I plan to do this next year as well - are there any little extras you think I should include that I haven't this year? Or anything you considered a must-have when you donated something similar?
What a wonderful initiative to support! I am not sure there is something similar in France, though there are some bag donations organised by charities throughout the year for people in need and I always make sure to give some toileteries essentials as these are so expensive and not everyone has access to them!
ReplyDeleteJulia x
www.julia-speaks.com
I hope you can find something similar! Even our libraries here collect donations of toiletries and other products for homeless connect, the need is really there sadly.
DeleteHello Mica, I hope you're having a lovely week!
ReplyDeleteThis is such a good initiative and I am always looking for new ways to improve our society, maybe this doesn't fix the problem but at least we can contribute for people in need specially in these hard times.
It is nice that you are giving many essentials for the daily life and things that could be expensive for some sectors of the society :)
Pablo
www.HeyFungi.com
I agree, it doesn't fix the problem but it makes life a little easier for someone hurting and it's so nice reading the stories the charity shares of people who have received bags in the past turning things around and being able to donate this year!
DeleteNice post! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteSuch a great thing to do! I should definitely see if there's something similar done in my area. My church used to do a giving tree where they would put up request ornaments on a Christmas tree during November and December and before Christmas you would bring your gift unwrapped and labeled with your ornament.
ReplyDeleteOur church does that too! It's good there are so many ways to give back at Christmas time.
DeleteWhat a fabulous idea!!! I'm going to have to see what we have like that here.
ReplyDeleteHope you can find something similar!
DeleteWowww
ReplyDeleteamazing post!
thanks for sharing ♥
I wish you have a incredible week!
What a lovely idea, I'll have to check if there's something similar here. I'm sure there is ... xxx
ReplyDeleteYes there is sadly such a need for this - I hope you find something similar!
DeleteI love that idea and it does sound like fun. I'm not familiar with it, but we have done 'shoeboxes' for a number of years. They are for kids and it's fun to see how much you can get in the shoebox.
ReplyDeleteIris
www.IrisOriginals.com
Oh the radio station here collects shoeboxes too! It's such a nice way to give back to kids!
DeleteI haven't heard of this before, but I love the idea! I'll have to find out if there's something similar in the UK, the cause is brilliant and it sounds like a fun way to help others too. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI hope you do find something similar!
DeleteIt's a great idea for a social cause, Mica! Huge congrats :-)
ReplyDeleteGosh, what a wonderful way to help out during these times. I just love this idea and I even have some extra skin care that I could include.
ReplyDeleteXOOX
Jodie
www.jtouchofstyle.com
Yes, I guess you'd have to say a face mask is def. an essential to keep on you these days! What a great collection of items and a great cause!
ReplyDeleteCarrie
curlycraftymom.com
That is such a sweet idea! You did a great job putting it together!
ReplyDeleteMica, I'm so proud of you that you do this to give back every year. I help at my office to do care packages like this, and they really do make a huge difference in women's lives. Kudos to you.
ReplyDeleteIt's so good to give back little things like this at Christmas - and nice you organised it at work too! It's sad it's needed but nice we can make a difference in a small way.
DeleteThis is so lovely and sweet. I did that once in school in my english class. It felt so great helping others.
ReplyDeletewww.fashionradi.com
That is a great idea. I'll have to look around and see if they do something like that around here. (Probably not, but I'm sure one could start it if it doesn't exist.)
ReplyDeleteThey call them blessing bags in the US, I hope you can find somewhere local that collects!
DeleteHi mica! this is a very special donation! I really love what you put inside the bag! i would love to search for similar ones in my country!
ReplyDeleteHope you can find something similar!
DeleteThis is such a sweet thing to do! I really like that you included some makeup items in your bag.
ReplyDeletexoxo
Lovely
www.mynameislovely.com
It was suggested on the list so I thought I'd add a couple! :)
DeleteI love the idea, the bag, and everything you bought for her. What a wonderful way to start getting ready for Christmas. Well done!!
ReplyDeleteNice stuff ❤
ReplyDeleteKisses ❤
Such a great idea!
ReplyDeleteGemma x
www.jacquardflower.uk
Great idea :-)
ReplyDeleteThis is such a great idea!!!! I love that you added a few extra special items like a necklace. I know all the toiletries are so important and a necessity but having something special and extra is just the icing on a cake. I really feel like this is such a great idea and I don't think we have anything like it here, usually it's for children but I love that the adults are also getting a little something to make the holidays special.
ReplyDeletebosbodaciousblog.blogspot.ca
Hope you can find something similar! We donate to the kids toy drive each year too, that's always a lot of fun, although we haven't found a time to do it yet this year!
DeleteGreat post!
ReplyDeleteBjxxx
Ontem é só Memória | Facebook | Instagram | Youtube
I remember your donation bags from previous years. This is such a great idea, I love the concept of preparing a donation bag and selecting items for a woman in need. You picked up great things. Obviously skincare and beauty products are always wonderful gift options. I like that you included a brush too. I think it is always good to have a spare brush, I typically rotate between two or three of them. You bought lovely things for her, I'm sure she'll feel better when she gets this bag knowing that someone selected the items for her with care.
ReplyDeletexoxo
Yes I really hope it makes her feel special! One of the volunteers posted on facebook saying they really need more mum and bubs bags so I'll have to do another of those next year! It's a good tradition to have!
DeleteAwesome idea great video and the bag have a bless Thanksgiving with your family and friends.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a lovely way to give back during the holidays and it's really wonderful that putting a bag together to donate to a woman in need has become a tradition for you. I'm sure whoever receives your bag will find the items to be very useful.
ReplyDeleteYes I really hope it makes her feel special! This is a fun tradition to have!
DeleteEs un lindo gesto. Eres muy generosa. Te mando un beso
ReplyDeleteThis is such a wonderful idea. I love that you added extra items. I'm sure the person who receives it will feel loved.
ReplyDeleteOne question: what are "Dummies"?
Dummies are things for babies, like pacifiers or soothers I think the Americans call them!
DeleteWhat a wonderful cause to support! I love this!
ReplyDelete-Ashley
Le Stylo Rouge
This is really great. I love this idea. Thank you so much for your support. Have a nice day. Best regards Jana
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful idea! So useful and some very deserving woman is going to be blessed!
ReplyDeletexo,
Kellyann
Nossa amore que maravilha, adorei a iniciativa muita luz para você que dá e a pessoa que recebe porque tenha certeza que a felicidade é para todos 🥰
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteBeijokas
www.estilopropriobysir.com
Thanks all for your comments! I really hope I inspired some of you to find out ways you can give back in your country in similar small ways :)
ReplyDelete