Annual appeal for gifts to help women and children open

The annual Hestia Women’s Refuge Christmas gift drive for women and children affected by domestic abuse is again accepting new and unwrapped presents at a number of venues in Rodney and on the Hibiscus Coast.

Organisers say they understand that more families than ever are feeling the financial pinch this year, so people’s generosity is appreciated more than ever, not least since demand for the refuge’s support services continues to increase.

“In the last five years, Aotearoa has seen a steady uptick in family violence occurrences, with police recording more than 175,000 events last year, compared to 132,000 in 2018,” a spokesperson said. “On average, police receive 22 reports of family harm an hour.”

That harm is not confined to physical violence, but can also include verbal, emotional, sexual, psychological and financial control or abuse.

Hestia is looking for new, unwrapped gifts for all ages, from babies up to teenagers, as well as for mums, with cash and giftcards particularly welcome, as they allow families to choose what they would like – see panel for gift ideas.

Gifts are being accepted until Friday, December 15 at:
• Westpac Warkworth
• Ravish, Matakana
• Neighbourhood Recycle, Matakana
• Leigh Eats
• Whangaparaoa Family Pharmacy, Stanmore Bay
• Hestia’s Kowhai Tree op shop, Silverdale

Info: Contact Claudia on 021 660362. To donate cash, visit https://givealittle.co.nz/org/hestia

For help and support, call 0800 321361 or visit https://hestiawomensrefuge.co.nz 

Gift Ideas

0-2 years
Clothes, plush toys, teething toys

2-5 years
Books, dress-up costumes, dinosaurs, dolls, Lego, wooden blocks, chalk, puzzles, play dough, toy cars

5-10 years
Action figures, arts and crafts, balls, colouring books, Lego, plush toys, trucks and cars, and crayons, paints and felt tip pens

Teenagers
Body spray/wash, sports items, colouring books, pens and paints, Lego, skateboards, scooters, earbuds, nail polish, Bluetooth speakers, beach towels

Mums
Slippers, body wash, candles, perfume, nail polish, aromatherapy oils, diffusers, weighted blankets, adult colouring books and pens

Gift cards
The Warehouse, Noel Leeming, Kmart, Prezzy Card
Also, wrapping paper and sticky tape are always welcome.

Please do not donate items that represent any kind of violence, like guns, swords, knives and other weapons, or ‘trigger toys’, such as police cars with flashing lights.