As Mother's Day approaches, we are reminded to honour the special women in our lives. For many, this means recognizing and thanking the women who have supported and loved us over the years. For others, it can be a deeply challenging time and a reminder of painful experiences.
Some of us have lost children or mothers; some women are not able to have children; and some women may experience other difficult associations with the reminders of their mothers or of motherhood. For parent survivors of intimate partner violence, motherhood and a woman's relationship with her child can be very complicated, as the child can trigger feelings of guilt and powerlessness in her. The child may be a reminder of a partner who abused the family or of a situation where the woman felt isolated and trapped.
This Mother's Day, it's important to be aware and understanding of the challenges associated with this day. We honour our mothers as well as those mother figures who supported us at difficult times in our lives--a grandmother, aunt, sister, friend, mentor, or a supportive group of women. We recognize those who listen to our stories with compassion and without judgement, and who helped us move forward wherever we were in our journeys.
At Victoria Women's Transition House, we hope that your loved ones are safe, and that whatever your situation is right now, you are able to connect from a distance and let the mother figures in your lives know just how much they matter to you.
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Safety is More Important Than Ever
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Due to the increased risk of intimate partner violence during COVID-19, and the essential nature of our services,
our Emergency Shelter program has expanded
. In order to keep our residents and staff members safe, clients have been moved to secure locations throughout the community where they can self-isolate and safely determine their next steps. If you or someone you know is needing to flee an abusive situation, please call our
24/7 Crisis & Information Line
.
Our Shelter services are running and we are here for you!
Crisis Line Number: 250-385-6611
Victoria Women's Transition House also has an
Emergency Safe Home program for older women
who are fleeing domestic violence and require a quiet home environment with additional privacy and one-on-one support. VWTH currently has two furnished and fully equipped apartment units. Women who are in self-isolation receive regular grocery gift cards and virtual counselling support, as well as assistance in finding long-term housing and financial aid. More information about this program can also be accessed via our 24/7 Crisis and Information Line.
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May is Leave a Legacy Month.
Leave a Legacy
is a national, community-based public awareness campaign of the Canadian Association of Gift Planners that encourages people to leave a gift through their will or another planned giving vehicle to a charity or cause that is meaningful to them. Some people feel compelled to leave a legacy gift as an important way of ensuring that their memories live on, or because they want to significantly contribute to a cause they deeply care about.
If you are interested in learning more about including Victoria Women's Transition House in your will and the Transition House
Legacy Circle
, please contact Susan Howard at 250-592-2927 ext. 210 or at
susanh@vwth.bc.ca
.
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Our clients are in recurring need of
GROCERY AND PHARMACY GIFT CARDS
to support them during the COVID-19 Crisis.
Grocery and pharmacy gift cards can be MAILED to our Community Office, #100 - 3060 Cedar Hill Rd, Victoria BC, V8T 3J5. Or you can email us at
info@vwth.bc.ca
to arrange a safe drop off or pick-up. Thank you!
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Victoria Women’s Transition House is looking for additional
computer laptops/notebooks in good working order
to help us support our clients so that they can stay socially connected during self-isolation. These laptops should be no more than 5-6 years old and include a Windows operating system with wifi capabilities. An accompanying power cord and mouse is appreciated. Please ensure that all your personal files are removed from the device. Our technician will digitally “clean” the laptop, making it ready for use. If you have a laptop/notebook to donate, please contact
info@vwth.bc.ca
to arrange a safe drop off or pick up. Thank you!
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CPHR (Chartered Professionals in Human Resources) just announced that VWTH's HR Manager, Sharde Long, has won the
2020 Rising Star Award
! Congratulations Sharde. We are lucky to have you here at Victoria Women's Transition House, helping to create a healthy, fun and respectful work environment for all.
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Community Support - THANK YOU!
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Professional cooks
Bradley Hamar
, of the
Tartan Toque
and
Augustus Krantz
from
Brasserie L’ecole
created 25 individual Easter dinners delivered to Victoria Women's Transition House's Emergency Shelter and Older Women's Housing residents. Each woman received a delicious home cooked meal, a bouquet of tulips and a package of Lindt Easter chocolate. Such incredible community generosity!
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Thank you so much to
Tasha Medve
and the whole
Modern Real Estate Team
for putting together lovely care packages for our clients!
The packages were full of essential items such as hand-made cloth masks and even included some art supplies to help women who are struggling during self-isolation.
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With gatherings prohibited and theatres dark,
David Anderson
and the
staff at the
Royal and McPherson Theatres Societ
y
thoughtfully directed the theatre’s concession treats to VWTH for distribution to clients - women and children receiving VWTH counselling and care packages.
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The
BC Association of Clinical Counsellors
and their volunteers donated delicious and artistic
Art Meets Chocolate
bars in recognition of the dedication and commitment of VWTH workers to women and children impacted by gender-based violence in our community.
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Our thanks to
Carolyne Taylor
of
YoUnlimited
for facilitating the donation of dozens of handmade “Olson”-style masks from local supporter “Alice” for residents of VWTH’s older women’s residence.
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So many of you have reached out with grocery gift cards, essential supplies, gifts and treats for clients and emergency funds during this extremely stressful time. We can't thank you enough! Every action counts right now and is felt and appreciated throughout our community.
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Here are some interesting articles that we shared recently 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
W
SÁNEĆ, 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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