Women's Refuge asks for help as Christmas approaches

Dear sir - Meath Women’s Refuge and Support Services launches its Christmas Appeal early this year in what has been a very difficult time for women and children who experience Domestic Abuse in their homes. In October 2020 alone, we received 44 calls from families seeking refuge accommodation. This is a threefold increase on the usual average numbers per month of families looking for refuge. We have seen a surge in demand for our services

With only three months to go from today until Christmas Day, women and children who experience domestic abuse face an uncertain winter as COVID-19 has made their world even smaller and more unsafe with avenues for escape and support significantly reduced.

When women and children arrive in refuge they often come with little or no money and just what they can carry. They often have to leave things behind, things that mean a lot to them. We provide them with shelter, food and other essentials for them and their children to meet their basic needs.

These inclue: basic supplies of food and clothing and bedding; counselling services which support the recovery of women experiencing domestic violence; play therapy programmes which help children express and communicate their feelings.

In 2019, we provided 80 hampers in the community and hampers to women and children in refuge through the generous donation of the public and local businesses in Co Meath. In addition, we received donations of funding to resource our therapeutic services for 2020. Due to COVID-19 19, our Christmas Appeal to the general public and local businesses is a different one than we usually make. We cannot take in donations of hampers and food this year deliver them to families due to public health guidelines, so we are asking you to donate in a new way.

We are asking schools, community groups, individuals and businesses to consider donating in any of the following ways:

Website: you can donate on www.dvservicesmeath.ie via our secure paypal button

By cheque or EFT: you can contact our office for more details on 046 9022393 Voucher Donations: As we cannot take in physical donations this year, you can still donate a gift via a voucher. We are recommending a grocery voucher or a voucher for toys. We can provide these vouchers to families we work with in refuge and in the community in early December, so families are supported to provide for their children during Christmas.

You can also download a Christmas Donor Pack from our website on www.dvservicesmeath.ie to give you information and advice about this year’s appeal.

We can assure the public in Meath that 100 per cent of all funds raised will be directed to providing a safe place, a warm bed, a listening ear, professional care and compassion to women and their children. Your compassion and commitment to ending the suffering of domestic violence and the generational impact on future generations is deeply appreciated at this difficult time for everyone in Ireland.

Yours,

Sinead Smith,

Manager,

Meath Women’s Refuge and Support Services.