Holiday season is approaching, and as you know, it can be a stressful time for many of us. This time of year can be even harder for the many women we work with who are dealing with the impacts of violence and abuse.
We want the holidays to be a beautiful time of year; we may look forward to preparing our favorite holiday meal, decorating the home, or picking out the perfect gifts for our children. But we also know that the seasonal rush to get these things done can be stressful. For women living with impacts of violence and abuse, they can be even more so with financial crunch, isolation, and the pressure to make the holidays the best they can be for their families.
Please consider making a donation to our Holiday Hamper program this year. The program matches sponsors with the Wish List of a single woman or a mother-lead family, so that she can have a brighter holiday season.
In the past years our generous sponsors of the Holiday Hamper program have provided women with a gift card to cook a beautiful turkey dinner for her family, winter jackets for their kids, craft supplies to enjoy together, and so much more! The Holiday Hampers really make a difference for women and their families around this time of year.
As a sponsor, you will receive a detailed Wish List on behalf of a woman and her family, including her special wish, the number and ages of any children, and their special wishes. We work with women in diverse family structures, including single women as well as mothers. Sponsors will be matched with women based on how many people the sponsor can provide for. Gift cards of $100 (single dinner) and $200 (family dinner) will be accepted to sponsor women whose special wish includes a turkey dinner. There is no stipulation on the amount that needs to be spent on other items. No matter the size or cost of the items you purchase, you will change a woman’s holiday season.
Hampers must be delivered to Battered Women’s Support Services by Friday, December 15th. This ensures that each woman has enough time to pick up their hamper and shop for their holiday meal. Gifts should be wrapped or wrapping paper provided with the hamper.
If sponsoring is not something you’re able to do at this time, please consider sharing this information within your networks to anyone who is looking to make a difference in women’s lives this holiday season. To sponsor a woman’s Holiday Wish List, please contact Kate at 604-687-1868 ext. 315 or email stsw@bwss.org.
