In March 2021 Wellness Advocate Veronica Arnold launched a campaign to raise $10,000 for Australian charity Share the Dignity, to go towards a Dignity Vending Machine (DVM), affectionately known as a #pinkbox. She smashed her target by June! “$10,000 freaked us at first… but to break it down it was 100 of us raising $100 – not so scary” Veronica said. 

Share the Dignity distributes sanitary items, bringing dignity to homeless, at-risk and those experiencing domestic violence. Nobody who experiences a period should go without period products – and no one should miss out on school, work, play, or food as a result. That is exactly what happens to many of our fellow Australians.

The DVM dispenses a FREE period pack which has six tampons and two pads in it. The machine is there to help those in need. $10,000 will be enough to create and install a DVM with enough product for 12 months.

After raising the funds, Veronica was delighted to work alongside Share the Dignity to see her very first DVM set up in a library/community hub in rural NSW. Then she heard about the Match Program!

Veronica applied to have her fundraising matched and she has now doubled her impact, with a second DVM being installed in a low socio-economic school in VIC. Studies have shown that absenteeism in school due to issues such as menstruation can jeopardise educational outcomes and Veronica’s efforts are making a significant impact on the lives of the students. Veronica said “I am very grateful to Healing Hands for providing the funds for this to happen for all these kids doing it tough. This is one less thing they’ll need to think about. Also one less expense the school will need to find funding for when they are doing such important work.”