Lifting the spirits of women going through a difficult time over the Christmas holidays is the simple message behind the Women Helping Women campaign.
But there is nothing simple about the dedicated effort that countless volunteers and supporters bring to the month-long campaign that is now in its 10th year in South Delta.
“With the generosity of our community, we have grown from 52 gift bags in year one to over 1,000 last year,” said co-ordinator Pindi Mann. “We anticipate we will be well over 1,000 this year as well. Each year the need increases and we get more requests from various programs, schools and shelters.”
The effort has grown so much year-to-year that Mann has created a committee to help plan, collect, organize and pack the gift bags.
Collection will be ongoing until Dec. 2 and the bags will be put together Dec. 4 at the Ladner Community Centre.
The campaign seeks donations of personal care items like hair products, combs and brushes, toothpaste and toothbrushes, soap, razors and make-up as well as pyjamas, robes, slippers, blankets, socks, gloves and scarves. See a full list of items on Facebook: womenhelpingwomensouthdelta or email: [email protected].
Donations will be collected in Ladner at Lawlor Goldsmith Shoppe, Muddy River Landing, Royal Canadian Legion, Grey Owl Boutique, Changes Hair Studio and Delta Village Chiropractic. In Tsawwassen, donations can be dropped off at Locks N Lashes and Deas Island Dance.
“The premise of this initiative resonates with many people -- to give a gift of pampering or self-care to a mom, woman, sister going through a difficult time over the holidays,” said Mann. “This could be a woman in our community, a woman receiving services from an outreach program or a woman finding herself in a shelter seeking safety. This is just a gift to say that she is thought of and that she deserves some time to take care of herself so that she can better take care of others.”
