(Left to right: Cassandra Little, Portia Zaffaroni, Breia Monti/Victoria Women's Professional Group)

A local women’s network is giving back to their community by organizing a donation drive to collect hygiene kits for women and children this winter.

The Victoria Women’s Professional Group is donating these hygiene kits to local nonprofit Women in Need (WIN) by November 30.

Each of these hygiene kits must include tooth brush, toothpaste, floss, pads, tampons, shampoo, conditioner, and deodorant.

Those who have the ability to give more can add things like body wash, moisturizer, face wash, razor or shaving kits, lip balm, nail polish, a hair brush and other cosmetics.

“As a group of professional women in Victoria, we wanted to give back this Christmas to an organization that helps vulnerable women become more financially secure and independent,” said Portia Zaffaroni, co-founder and President of the Victoria Women’s Professional Group.

“This is our first big community initiative since we founded in January this year.”

The group asks that donors assemble the aforementioned items in a cardboard box, preferably gift-wrapped or inside a gently used handbag.

They hope to collect 100 hygiene kit donations by November 30, and a group of volunteers will meet WIN on December 1 to donate the items.

Donations can be made by drop-off at designated locations in James Bay, Fernwood, Esquimalt, Uptown, Colwood, and near Victoria General Hospital, or volunteers from the group can arrange to pick up at your workplace or residence.

Those who are interested in donating a hygiene kit can email Sofia, the Community Engagement Coordinator at community@vwpg.ca or fill out this Google Form.

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