Located in the bathroom at The Hub, the machine, which dispenses free period packs consisting of two pads and six tampons, is being used by up to 40 women per month. 

The Hub coordinator, Harley Dannatt, said while he has not had direct feedback from women using the service, the numbers say it all. 

"We have given away more than 300 packs so far, women just come into the bathroom and take what they need without having to talk to anyone. 

"I happened to be in the laundry and I heard one women telling another women about the machine. Another time a lady told me it was out of stock. 

"What that tells me is, firstly, people are using it and, secondly, word is spreading and people obviously value it. 

"There are a lot of people with limited funds, Share the Dignity's ethos is people shouldn't have to choose between feminine hygiene products and food," Mr Dannatt said. 

The vending machines are an initiative of Share the Dignity -  an Australian charity founded by Rochelle Courtenay - and have been installed across Australia in poverty-stricken schools, homeless shelters and domestic violence refuges.

Having visited Katherine last year, Ms Courtenay said it gives her hope to see women in Katherine have access to basic necessities, such as tampons and pads, free of charge. 

"That is 40 women not going without, what were they doing before?," she said. 

"It is about women in Katherine knowing about the machine and breaking the taboo."

The charity started in 2015, and has so far helped empower thousands of women and girls across Australia. 

"So many women, every month, have to forfeit sanitary products because they cannot afford them. Many mothers have to choose between buying tampons and feeding their children," Ms Courtenay said.

Amid the usual busyness of breakfast at the Katherine Doorways Hub this morning bright pink bags loaded with sanitary items were handed out to women. 

The generous donation from Share the Dignity arrived out of the blue. 

As part of a Christmas donation drive in partnership with Chemist Warehouse, the pink bags contained basic items such as shampoo, conditioner, soap, tooth paste and tampons, and were dispersed to remote communities in Western Australia and the NT. 

For Iris Banjo, the products are a bit of a luxury. 

A regular at the Hub, Ms Banjo said she will be able to put her money towards other things such as food and water, now that the basics are covered. 

She didn't have a lot of the products before. 

"It is nice to not have to worry about buying these products now," she said. 

In a bid to provide as much as one million dollars to Share the Dignity over the next year, Woolworths will  donate five cents from every pack of sanitary items sold, including pads, tampons, liners or period briefs, across its stores nationally.

The donated funds will be used to install and maintain more of the charity's pink vending machines.

"Girls miss out on school simply because families cannot afford to buy the basic of necessities. With an average of 4-5 period days a month, we estimate that disadvantaged girls are missing out on 400 days of schools, which is simply unacceptable," Ms Courtenay said.

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