The gift I’m most looking forward to giving this Christmas

November 19 2016

love gift giving. It is a natural extension of shopaholicism (a thing, without doubt) and the quest for finding a gift that is *just right*. I take great joy in shopping for my loved ones and finding thoughtful ways to show them how much they mean to me.

But this Christmas has already been a little different, because the gifts I’m most looking forward to giving have been shopped for with love… but I don’t know the recipients.

I am participating in Share The Dignity’s #itsinthebag campaign, encouraging women to take a handbag they no longer use and fill it with essentials (and a couple of little luxuries) for a woman who’s put the needs of others ahead of her own this Christmas.

Share the Dignity’s amazing founder Rochelle Courtenay explains why this campaign matters

“Let me tell you WHY we Share the Dignity with the #itsinthebag. I was told of so many stories but one that sticks out the most in my head is this one… 

A woman who had turned to a domestic violence refuge for help and happened to be there on Christmas day, she had two children and NOTHING. This handbag was hers, given with love, received with LOVE.

She cried upon receiving it, throwing it over her shoulder, feeling it and commenting on how kind people were. She looked into the bag and started crying, she now had a toothbrush and a hairbrush things that mean so little to us, but to her it was so important. After going through the bag she also discovered a Rockmans gift voucher, she was overwhelmed with emotions, really crying because someone cared enough to give her this gift. The lady waited until her kids went back to school and she headed to the big sales, well she found a great dress and felt a million bucks. She then headed off to a job interview and got the job!!

This bag, this gift changed her life in so many ways.”

A life changing gift is the sort of gift I want to give this Christmas!

So over the past month and a bit I’ve been collecting little bits to make up two bags. I didn’t have two handbags I was ready to part with, so I bought two newbies from Collette on sale (super versatile options there!). A snapshot of what’s going in the bags I’m gifting below:

#itsinthebag

What’s going in the bag: (most of) the contents of the two bags I’m putting together for Share The Dignity’s #itsinthebag Christmas campaign!

Bag collections have JUST opened, if you want to pull together a handbag (or two, or three) for a woman who could do with an act of kindness, you have ’til December 3 to get your bag to a collection point!

Share the dignity have put together this handy guide of ideas for bag contents:

#itsinthebag quick guide

#itsinthebag quick guide

And some beautiful printables are available on their website to include in your bag.

#itsinthebag

#itsinthebag printable

Words for all of us.

Are you participating in #itsinthebag this year? Is there something else you or your family do at Christmas time to help those less fortunate? Love to hear the ways you are sharing kindness in the comments below! 

2 Comments

  • Kristy says:

    Love it! I have been putting bags together for Share the Dignity for a couple of years now. I would love to know where you found the “I NEED?… poncho, nail file, sanitiser etc?

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