The 20 year-old woman who was fined a whopping $500 for stealing a $6.75 box of tampons in Coolgardie, will donate some of the crowdfunded money to charity.
After Coolgardie Police tweeted (then deleted) about issuing the fine, Australians rallied to cover the cost of it – because let’s face it, it’s gross and ‘undignified’ if women bleed openly when they can’t afford menstrual products, but it’s illegal if they steal them. Obviously a lose/lose situation, which makes tampons and pads being classed as ‘luxury items’ openly discriminatory and kinda classist, no?
After the woman was fined, Essentials for Women SA co-founder Amy Rust desperately tried to pay the fine for the woman, but was not allowed to without a reference number. So, she started a crowdfunding page which eventually reached a total of more than $4000.
Rust eventually found the woman by contacting random people in Kalgoorlie, paid the fine and service fees, then gave the rest of the money to the woman.
Now the woman, who said she’s been too embarrassed to leave the house because of the experience, has expressed her utmost gratitude to the people who helped her. She will donate $1100 of the $2000 sent to her to women’s charities and Aboriginal legal services in Kalgoorlie. She said to Ms. Rust:
“I don’t want anyone to be in this situation again, that’s for sure. I’m really, really grateful.”
via SMH.
