Good360’s Member of the Month program allows us to celebrate and congratulate those members that go above and beyond. Our April Member of the Month was The Beauty Bank! The Beauty Bank has been a Good360 member for almost 4 years, joining in October 2016. During COVID-19 they have been spreading joy and love by supplying little luxury gift packs to our front line workers.
We interviewed The Beauty Bank Operations Manager, Denise Dolan asking her about some of her favourite moments and how Good360 supports The Beauty Bank’s work.
What programs do you use the goods ordered from Good360? Who does the program serve? How does it impact Australians in need?
The Beauty Bank only has one program. We make up ‘Life’s Little Luxuries’ bags containing essential toiletry and hygiene items and small gift items to women, men and older teens who have left a place of domestic violence or other hardship situation. These can be people from all walks of life and offers a tangible gift but also the gift of self-worth, self-confidence and the feeling of being valued in the community.
What is your favourite moment/interaction that you have had with a client when utilising Good360 product?
We pack and distribute the bags via social workers so rarely get to meet a recipient. However, I was at an outdoor function wearing a polo shirt (donated by Good360 and with permission to use for the volunteers!) emblazoned with our charity logo and a woman rushed up to me, gave me an enormous hug and said that she had received one of our bags the previous week. She said using the NYX makeup palette in it made her feel so happy and she felt we knew what she needed. A few tears were shed!
How does Good360 help your mission?
Purchasing the little luxuries for our bags can be expensive. Having the ability to order via Good360 name brand mascara, makeup, costume jewellery, wallets etc has saved us thousands of dollars.
What would happen if Good360 wasn’t here to help?
Our spending capacity is limited, and we would have to limit the luxury items in the bags. Not every bag will contain an item from Good360 but at least 1 in 2 does, thus enabling us to spend the money on other essentials.
What is your favourite item you have received from Good360? Why?
Strange as it may sound, the pick and pack event in June 2018 was so much fun and my favourite. Here we were able to pick items where there were only a few left, and pack as much into a box as we could. I had so much fun with this one, getting bags, jewellery and small towels.
The most luxurious and beautiful donation, however, was recently when we were able to access a donation from The Body Shop for use in our bags going to those affected by the bushfires and COVID-19 pandemic. The products were superb, and I am sure the recipients will be very grateful.
How many lives have you impacted through Good360’s donations?
Since October 2016 The Beauty Bank has made around 8,700 bags for distribution and I think at least half of those bags have contained at least one item from Good360 – that is at least 4,350 lives that Good360 has touched via the Beauty Bank.
