91-year-old overwhelmed by kindness
An elderly woman who was assaulted in her Auckland home has been blown away by the support she’s received from the community.
Eileen Harwood, 91, a greatgrandmother, was knocked out cold after two men tricked their way onto her Mt Wellington property on December 5.
The home invasion happened about 3.30pm as Harwood and her daughter Sue Tutt returned home.
The two men pushed her to the ground and stole her purse.
Her family set up a fundraising page through website Givealittle, to help buy and install a security door so Harwood could feel safe in her own home again.
After raising $600, the family shopped around for a security door.
They came across Henderson company Screens R Us which offered the security doors and installation, worth $1100, for free.
Harwood’s family used the funds raised to pay for a second security door which was installed in a bedroom.
‘‘Honestly, you think you know people but you don’t,’’ Harwood said.
‘‘It’s only after going through an ordeal like that that you realise how kind people are.
‘‘My place looks so posh now with the security doors.’’
She said she had never considered installing security doors in her home before but having them now made her feel extra safe.
Screens R Us owner Rowan O’connor said they were happy to help Harwood after hearing about her ordeal.
‘‘It was a terrible thing that she went through and we only just wanted to make her feel safe,’’ O’connor said.
Harwood said she appreciated the work of St John’s and the police following the assault.
‘‘The rotten thing is that you work hard all your life and these rotten thieves think they can take it away and own it all.
‘‘I am absolutely grateful for the generosity of people, even my neighbours who I had never met before popped by to give me flowers. ‘‘It was all so very touching.’’ The offenders, which stole Harwood’s purse with $50 inside, have not been caught.
Harwood’s daughter Sue Tutt said her mother was shaken up after the traumatic experience.
‘‘But mums a fighter,’’ Tutt said.