A Grant With Heart: What the IMB Community Foundation Means to Pod Projects and Our Dignity Bags Project

Every now and then, something happens that reminds us why we began Pod Projects in the

first place. Being awarded a grant from the IMB Community Foundation is one of those moments, both humbling and inspiring.

We were honoured to attend the event recognising community organisations from across our region. Being included among them was a privilege, and the grant we received will directly support one of our local, longest-running & most personal initiatives: Dignity Bags.

How the Dignity Bags Began

The Dignity Bags project started here in our home town, Wollongong, quietly, and with purpose.

We saw a need in our own community:

• People sleeping rough & doing it tough.

• Families in crisis situations where even basic hygiene essentials were out of reach.

So we began assembling toiletry bags filled with items many of us take for granted - soap, toothbrushes, deodorant, shampoo, feminine-hygiene products, just to name a few.

Simple items, but what they offer is dignity, comfort and care at a moment when someone may feel forgotten.

Through local shelters, community centres and outreach programs, our Dignity Bags now reach people who need them most.

What This Grant Means

This grant means we can:

• Assemble more Dignity Bags than ever before

• Keep a steady and regular monthly supply

• Purchase hygiene items in bulk

• Reach individuals who might otherwise go without

  Because when you’re in crisis, sometimes the small things matter so much.

  Being clean. Being seen. Maintaining dignity.

The Bigger Need: Real-Statistics

The statistics tell a sobering story, and help explain just how critical this work is.

• Over 4 million Australians are experiencing so-called “hygiene poverty” — that is, unable to afford everyday personal hygiene or cleaning products.

• Of these, about 2.6 million say their mental or physical health has been impacted by this inability to afford hygiene items.

These numbers remind us that the people we’re supporting with Dignity Bags aren’t “somebody else”. When someone goes without hygiene items, it isn’t a trivial matter: it affects health, schooling, employment, social inclusion and self-worth.

The Invisible Impact

Most of the people who receive a Dignity Bag don’t know our names; we won’t know theirs. And that’s okay. Our mission has never been about recognition, it’s about reminder:

And the stories that come back to us, though often quiet, say everything:

• Outreach workers sharing that these little bags often spark conversation and connection.

This is even when the person may have lost so much else.

Our Community Made This Possible

Pod Projects is powered by a village of supporters, donors and believers. The IMB Community Foundation is now part of that story, helping our little project reach further than we could have imagined when it began around a kitchen table.

We are deeply grateful for the support and recognition and more importantly, we’re ready to honour it with action.

Where We Go From Here

More bags. More hands reached. More dignity restored.

If you’d like to help, whether through donating items, sponsoring sets, or simply spreading the word, please get in touch. Every contribution, no matter how small, becomes part of someone’s fresh start.

From our hometown to the hearts of others, thank you for walking alongside us.

With gratitude,

The Pod Projects Team

Want to know more about this project? Head to our blog for the Dignity Bag origin story - https://www.podprojects.org.au/post/anatomy-of-a-hygiene-bag

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you for walking alongside us. With gratitude, Pod Projects