Abuse survivor offers helping hand

Isolated, fearful and worthless.

That’s how Anita Hinton’s felt during the days after escaping an abusive partner six years ago.

She now hopes to provide others in similar situations with a few creature comforts in those first few crucial days of leaving a relationship – and she’s calling on others to help.

The 34-year-old, from Auckland, used her experience to create I Got Your Back Pack – a charity distributing backpacks of essential items to women, men and children who find themselves in a domestic violence crisis.

Hinton fled the abusive relationship in the middle of the night, taking nothing but her young child with her. She ended up at Women’s Refuge, restarting her life from scratch.

‘‘It’s a real hard journey and it’s lonely.

‘‘You feel like a piece of rubbish – used and abused and thrown out.’’

She is now calling on others to donate items to the charity.

‘‘I know what it’s like at dark times in your life to feel like you’re not worth anything, or you’re not enough, and there’s noone there to help you and support you through it.

‘‘That’s what I want to be to these people – a light in the darkness.’’

The backpacks contain everything ‘‘I wish I had had’’. Toiletries, pens, puzzles, colouring books, reading books, water, clothes and toys.

The charity initially supported Women’s Refuge, and has partnered with Shine and Shakti.

The charity’s Christmas drive means it will be able to provide care packs to police, hospitals and social services.

Visit igotyourbackpack.org.nz or find the charity on Facebook for more.

Items can be donated at Bunnings Palmerston North.