Victoria Women's Transition House desperately needs donors for its Christmas Hamper program
With more clients than ever before, the Victoria Women's Transition House Society (VWTH) is putting out a plea for help with its Christmas Hamper program.
Demand is up 30 per cent this year for the society's gift card hampers, which help women and their families to buy food and presents of their choice during the holiday season.
The transition house needs to fill at least 60 hampers for the holiday season and is about half way there.
Typically, a family will receive a minimum $100 gift card for groceries and approximately $50 to $100 per person for gifts.
Transition house clients who have accessed services in the past year are eligible for the donations.
“For women and women with children who are impacted and directly affected and fleeing intimate partner violence and abuse, it is an extremely difficult time,” says Susan Howard, development and communications director for the Victoria Women's Transition House Society.
“So to receive a Christmas hamper from caring folks in the community, it is enormously impactful.”
The society matches people and groups who sign up to be hamper donors with families and individuals from its pool of clients, which includes single women, mothers with children of all ages, and older women.
Donors can complete an online hamper application form. After receiving a form, VWTH contacts the donor to provide additional information about matched client/family, their Christmas wish list and program guidelines.
Christmas hampers need to be filled by the end of next week, Friday, Dec. 10.
In the past year, the Victoria Women’s Transition House has received over 3,000 calls to its crisis line as more and more women and their children seek help.
If you are impacted by domestic violence or abuse, you are encouraged to call their 24-Hour Crisis and Information Line at (250) 385-6611.
If you want to donate a Christmas hamper or want more information, visit the Victoria Women’s Transition House website or Facebook page.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NDP motion regarding Palestinian statehood passes after major Liberal alterations
A motion from the federal New Democrats initially calling on Canada to recognize the 'State of Palestine' passed amid widespread acrimony on Monday, after the Liberals drastically altered its wording to see the government simply work towards that aim as part of a two-state solution.
'He didn't want to die': Family of Calgary man killed in standoff speaks out
Family of a Calgary man killed after a 30-hour standoff with police last week are speaking out, sharing details of the tense and heart-wrenching experience.
Toronto family doctor who called patient's body 'perfect' suspended for 3 months: tribunal
A family doctor in Toronto has been suspended for three months after a disciplinary tribunal found that he failed to follow proper protocols while examining a patient's breasts and made inappropriate comments about her body.
Ohio mom who left toddler alone 10 days when she went on vacation pleads guilty to aggravated murder
An Ohio mother whose 16-month-old daughter died after being left home alone in a playpen for 10 days last summer while she went on vacation was sentenced Monday to life in prison with no chance of parole.
Retired teacher pleads guilty to paying for sex with 15-year-old in Collingwood, Ont.
In a Barrie courtroom on Monday, a retired high school teacher from the Niagara Region pleaded guilty to sexual touching and obtaining sexual services from a 15-year-old boy in Collingwood in 2021.
Hertz CEO out following electric car 'horror show'
The company, which announced in January it was selling 20,000 of the electric vehicles in its fleet, or about a third of the EVs it owned, is now replacing the CEO who helped build up that fleet, giving it the company’s fifth boss in just four years.
5 charged in Calgary kidnappings that targeted women
Calgary police have charged five men in a pair of kidnappings last year that targeted innocent victims.
Demand soars for solar eclipse glasses in Canada. Are they worth buying?
The demand for total solar eclipse glasses used to safely view the rare celestial event has been ramping up as sellers, along with astronomy and eye-care experts in Canada, warn that viewing the eclipse with the naked eye is dangerous.
Canadian commander of volunteer fighter group dies in Ukraine
A Canadian-born commander of the so-called Norman Brigade, a volunteer fighting group in Ukraine, has died.