Celebrating the Holidays During COVID-19: Wellness Tips |
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As we say goodbye to the last of the Halloween candies and bring out the warmer Winter-wear, we may be starting to think about the Holiday season and what that might look like this year...
While the Holiday season is a time of frosty scenery, festive decor, gratitude and spending time with loved ones, it can also be a time of increased stress and anxiety. Add a pandemic to the mix and we are faced with even more uncertainty. Here are some tips to support our wellbeing and make this Holiday period, or any time during the pandemic, more manageable:
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Wellness Tools
Wellness tools help to manage our mental health and stress so that we can better cope with everyday tasks and situations. Wellness tools are personal to what we enjoy and what helps our overall wellbeing. This can include regular sleep and exercise, a healthy diet, personal tools such as a hot shower, a warm bath with fragrant soap, a favourite bowl of delicious soup or a mug of tea.
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Budget
The Holiday season is a time to celebrate and engage in various wholesome activities. While we strive to make the most of the festivities, staying within budget to avoid financial stress is important. Consider activities such as making your own decorations and presents, sharing virtual messages of gratitude and taking walks to look at Holiday decorations.
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Reach Out
Equally important are social tools and connections such as speaking to loved ones on a regular basis and/or asking for help. Connecting with family, friends or neighbours can help us to feel less isolated. Attending community programs and religious or cultural events, even through digital connections like Zoom, can allow us to see friendly faces and feel community bonds and common purpose.
Regularly checking-in with others through telephone or video conference can help us to share our feelings and stay connected.
The Holiday period can be difficult, but support is always available. Judgement-free support for women experiencing intimate partner violence and abuse is available 24/7. Call our Crisis Line & Information Line at 250-385-6611.
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Violence is Preventable (VIP) Video Series |
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Over the last few months, our Children Who Witness Abuse/PEACE team and community education coordinator have been working together to create a five-part VIP video series.
Three of the five videos will feature Q & A sessions that will show PEACE counsellors replying to questions submitted by student actors. The videos will target middle-school and high-school students. The two remaining videos, intended for youth and young adults, will bring awareness to the cycle of abuse.
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This project was made possible with the support and contributions of Roll.Focus Production and Ms. Martin and student actors from Lambrick Park Secondary School. The VIP Program is funded by the Viveka Foundation Fund; Pilot Fund for Gender Equality, a collaboration between Community Foundations of Canada and the Equality Fund, with support from the Government of Canada; Silver Gummy Foundation; BC Society of Transition Houses and Newman’s Own Foundation as well as individual donors.
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Healing Through the Arts: Ceramics for Older Women |
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Join a small group of older women for a free, eight-week art group through our Older Women's Outreach Program.
Winter Group participants will focus on self-expression and inner reflection through ceramics. For more information and to register for a group, call 250-385-2103.
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VWTH thanks the CRD Arts Commission and individual donors for support of this program.
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Note: All VWTH programs and services are offered in a safe, indoor or outdoor space with ample fresh air and ventilation and with protocols regarding on-site physical distancing, mask-wearing and hand-washing procedures. Participants in group programs receive personal materials and supplies. |
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Our sincere thanks to the many folks who have come forward with their donations to support VWTH this fall. We wish to thank the generosity of the Eldon and Anne Foote Fund at the Edmonton Community Foundation; A & S Murphy Family Fund; Community Recovery Program at the Victoria Foundation from the Elizabeth Russ Fund; Boxcarsix Artist Collective and the Estate of Walter Charles Cownden, among many others.
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Sovereign Order of St. John of Jerusalem
"Angels of Victoria"
Thank you to Sovereign Order of St. John of Jerusalem for their generous donation. A special thank you to Marguerite, Penny and Deedrie who visited VWTH to meet with our Executive Director and Development Manager and present the generous cheque donation.
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Monthly Flower Donation
Each month from September until April, VWTH will receive a beautiful bouquet of flowers created and safely delivered by Foxglove Flowers. Thank you to the generous community donor for this thoughtful and heartwarming gesture.
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The Victorian, Atria Retirement Residence
Thank you to the Chefs at The Victorian, Atria Retirement Residence for preparing 50 individual Thanksgivings dinners and delicious pumpkin spice muffins, delivered to enthusiastic VWTH Shelter and residence clients. Our sincere thanks to the chefs for this incredible gift.
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Roses for the Shelter—Roses from Rotary
A dozen beautiful, long stemmed red roses were delivered by a thoughtful and generous VWTH supporter to brighten the day of the women and children at the Shelter. Pictured is a Transition House counsellor, happily accepting the elegant delivery. Our thanks to Paulette Marsollier and Harbourside Rotary.
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100+ Women Who Care Victoria
A huge thank you to 100+ Women Who Care Victoria for selecting VWTH as their September 2020 donation recipient. A special thanks to Marnie and Paulette (pictured) for presenting the cheque donation to our Development Director last month.
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Victims and Survivors of Crime Week
The “Celebrating Courage, Renewing Commitment—Domestic Violence & Abuse Awareness Project” will raise community awareness of the supports and services available to support victims and survivors of intimate partner violence and abuse—women, older women and children who witness abuse.
Watch for our daily articles in the Victoria Times Colonist exploring topics on violence and abuse, emergency shelter, counselling and resource supports as well as inspirational stories and quotes by courageous survivors. Thanks to the Department of Justice Canada and the Times Colonist for support of this project.
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Healthy Vegan Treats Fundraiser
Singing Bowl Granola, in collaboration with Sweetly Raw Desserts, have created several healthy vegan treats that are being sold online and locally. On a six-month rotating basis with other women's organizations, Singing Bowl Granola will generously donate 10% of their profit sales from their peanut butter crunch bars and vegan caramel crunchers to VWTH. Visit www.singingbowlgranola.com to learn more!
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Every year, generous community donors are paired with women and children who have accessed services through VWTH to create personalized Christmas Hampers. These gifts bring great joy to our clients who have been in our programs this past year. Despite COVID-19, we are determined to ensure that women and children who have escaped intimate partner violence and abuse can participate in this uplifting Holiday program.
This year, individual, family and corporate donors donor will be matched and provided with a gift card wish list from a woman/mother so that she can purchase Holiday groceries, gifts for her children and special gifts and treats for herself and her family.
We invite community members to join the program and become donors. For more information, please email our program coordinator at christmas@vwth.bc.ca or visit our
website, www.transitionhouse.net, click on Support Us and Christmas Hamper Program. We thank all generous donors for their heartwarming contributions.
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Here are some articles that we recently shared via social media:
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Victoria Women’s Transition House Society collaborates, advocates and educates to address and prevent intimate partner violence and abuse of women and children through supportive shelter, housing, counselling and other community-based services.
Victoria Women's Transition House Society is a registered charity.
Our charitable registration number is: 10817 3501 RR0001.
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Stay Connected with us on social media: |
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It is with much respect to the Lkwungen and SENĆOŦEN speaking peoples of the WSÁNEĆ, Esquimalt, and Songhees Nations, on whose traditional territories the Victoria Women’s Transition House Society is located, that we make this acknowledgment with the expressed shared hope to live in communities free of intimate partner violence.
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