For the price of a pair of mittens and a scarf, more women in Canada will be able to find the kind of shelter and help they need.
Winners and HomeSense are selling the mittens for $12.99 and the scarf for $19.99 across Canada and it can help thousands.
Kathryn Babcock of the Canadian Women’s Foundation says their sale can help 30,000 abused women and children across the country get help. It’s all part of the “Hosting for Hope” program.
“It’s quite an extraordinary fact that right now as we speak there are 5,000 women and children who are in shelters for abused women because it’s not safe for them to be at home.”
“Ashley” is one of those women. Although “Ashley” is not her real name, her problem is. The 29-year-old mother is living with her children in a shelter for abused women.
“I did feel lonely, not so much anymore. I’ve got a lot of help here.”
Domestic abuse in central Ontario is on the rise; with a projected 36 per cent more reported cases than last year.
Lynda Muir of the Women and Children’s Shelter of Barrie sees the problem every day.
“We get 1,000 phone calls a year and we have about 150 women and children come through this shelter every year,” says Muir. “Women are traumatized and children are traumatized and it takes a long time to work that out.”
“Ashley” says the programs she’s received for abused women and children are invaluable, life changing for the better.
“Not to be scared, get help when you need it, don’t run from it, the longer it goes the worse it gets.”
And something as simple as the sale of a pair of warm mittens and a scarf can make a difference.
While a scarf and mittens will offer some shelter from the cold, the Canadian Women’s Foundation say the money raised from the sale of the items will offer shelter of a different kind – shelter that can help rebuild lives.
