Helping women through winter
Waikato Women’s Refuge is putting the call out for help this winter, to support women and children who have fled violent situations.
The refuge, which has helped more than 4000 Waikato women escape violent and abusive relationships in the past year, is asking for people to donate household items or volunteer to help victims of domestic violence set up their new homes.
‘‘We need bedding and linen, furniture, kitchen items, irons, vacuum cleaners, clothing – all the things that people require when they need to set up a home from scratch,’’ Lottie Siaosi said.
Siaosi is a family violence specialist at one of the refuge’s residential crisis houses. She has worked with the refuge for more than a decade.
‘‘When families have to move out of their home due to domestic violence, often they have to get out fast and often they can’t go back.
‘‘We want to help give our women and children a fresh start, without the financial burden. If we can provide them items to help set up their new home, it is a huge help to them.’’
The Waikato Women’s Refuge was established in 1986 by a group of local Ma¯ori women as a response to family violence. Since then it has grown from a one-bedroom flat into five safe houses across Hamilton city.
They accommodate around 60 women and children a week and Siaosi said refuge staff often volunteer their time to help the families move.
‘‘We pack down houses, put everything into storage, and then when a suitable home is found we then have to move a woman and her family into the new house.
‘‘We appreciate any ‘manpower’ or ‘womanpower‘ we can get. We also need people with vehicles – moving vans or trailers – to volunteer to help our families move. Any help is gratefully received.’’
Donations of toiletries, nonperishable grocery items and cash were also appreciated by the refuge.
‘‘Often when a woman is leaving in a hurry in the middle of the night, she comes to the safe house without even a tooth brush or tooth paste, and those are necessities for our families,’’ Siaosi said.
People can contact the refuge to donate items, or to volunteer their time and support. Please phone 07 855 1569. This is also the refuge’s crisis line, and help is available 24 hours a day.