My Morning Musings |
The past six weeks have been super busy! I tried to write an updated blog last week and didn't finish and now more has happened! I feel like I better type REALLY fast to get it out there! We have been SO busy! It is exciting and fun! However sometimes Heather and I are a bit exhausted due to working fulltime while we do the work! We wouldn't change it though! We love what we are doing and truly believe that it IS MAKING AN IMPACT! We have attended Networking Fairs at UNB Fredericton and Saint John Oct. 5th & 11th. The Take Back the Night Sisters in Spirit event at Tobique First Nation Oct. 4th. Built comfort kits with the Rotaract Club and their generous donations Oct. 12th. Attended the Best Western Shopping Extravaganza in Woodstock Oct. 20th. We have more planned for November so I will update you soon on that! It is Family Violence Prevention Month - so there will be presentations and events! Be sure to follow and share! We are incredibly grateful to the Forensic Nurse Examiners who support us and help us spread the word about the need to obtain medical treatment; the opportunity to get help and support and resources with an option to report to the police - not a requirement; and for attending events with us to help educate the public and raise awareness about physical and sexual violence. We are overwhelmed with the generosity and donations that the Rotaract Club of Woodstock gathered and made on our behalf! We received over $1600 in comfort kit items and gift cards. We had a wonderful evening assembling the kits with the group of men and women from our community while we shared more about what we do. THANK YOU ALL! We continue to work with and I sit on the RVCC River Valley Caring Communities Committee - they are in touch with what is happening and together we all work to raise awareness and eradicate intimate partner and sexual violence! I had several meetings this past month to help us move the work forward. In particular with Sarah Munn who is setting up a Sexual Violence Centre in Woodstock and we are excited to learn more and assist how we can! All of this is positive! Except, that we wish we were not needed and that none of us who work in the field had to specialize in this area. However, we are getting the word out; letting people know we exist and there is a need; and trying to create communities that are safer and where those who have been affected KNOW THEY CAN GET HELP! As part of this, we have several fundraisers going! We NEED to reach charitable non-profit status so that this can be a service that is ongoing! We are currently in three hospitals, URVH - Woodstock, DECH - Fredericton and SJRH - Saint John. In the next few weeks, we are reaching out to Moncton and Miramichi with kits and clothing and gift cards! Moncton is the fastest growing area of the province and we know they need our support! We have been speaking with OTHER provinces who want this available - it should be in EVERY hospital in our country! BUT it takes work - people and support! We believe that rather than every province raising the money to get non-profit and charitable status, that we can be an umbrella organization. We are MAKING the connections! We are getting interest! We are having VOLUNTEERS to do the work and sit on boards! Please HELP US REACH THIS GOAL! How can you help? 1) We are currently selling 100 Squares for $20 each - this will raise $2,000 and the winner gets 50% and we do as well! We will sell until Dec. 15th! What a great way to start the holidays! 2) Purchase some merchandise! We have these lovely winter beanies/toques/hats and a purple We're Here For You pen! For a $50 donation - you get both! Limited supplies! 3) Go to our website and make a donation for ANY amount you would like! 4) Make an e transfer and indicate what it is for! 5) Purchase ECO friendly items from either Tru Earth or Eco Collective and we receive 20% of the funds. 6) Place orders through our Amazon link - the items are all needed but the MOST needed items are packets of underwear - small, medium, large, xxlarge. They get mailed straight to us! All links are listed in above in 1 through 6. We will continue to do our part! Apply for grants, make presentations in the community, fundraise and let you know what is happening! Thank you for your time and please check out these fabulous photos from this fall! Peace and love, Sarah and Heather
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Sarah Sherman - Founder of We're Here For You - Comfort Kit ProjectThe founder of this project, Sarah Sherman, felt compelled to help other women, children and young men - who find themselves seeking help after a sexual assault. From personal experience, Sarah knows the trauma of having to get help from the RCMP, going to the ER and the devastating experience of having to undergo a rape kit from a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) which can take several hours. The nurses are amazing, but nothing makes it feel any better. At the end of the exam, Sarah recalled what it was like to put on clothing that did not fit right, was inappropriate for herself and to walk out of the room with nothing. She wanted to do something that would make this recovery a little bit less intimidating for the next person. She hoped to help provide them with some dignity, respect and equality as they make their way through what will inevitably be a long journey of working through justice, healing and recovery. |
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