4 Ways You Can Make the Holidays Brighter for Women and Children Escaping Violence
The holiday season is here. It is a time to get together with friends and family and celebrate. But the holidays can also evoke difficult emotions for women and their children who have recently left an abusive relationship.
At My Friend’s House, we know how hard it can be for women and children to start a new life during this time of year. Here are some ways you can help women start a new chapter in their lives and make this holiday season a little bit brighter.
1.Make A Donation To My Friends House
When you make a financial donation, you help us keep our shelter doors open and provide the women and children with the support they need to begin a life free of domestic violence.
Every year, we must raise over 60% (approximately $600,000) of our operating budget for our core services, to offset the operating expenses not funded by the Ministry of Community and Social Services.
My Friend’s House is the only shelter open 24/7 in the Georgian Triangle. Our staff respond to over 3,000 crisis calls a year, and every year 600 women and children will stay with us and move on to a healthy, violence-free life.
Thanks to monetary donations, we can ensure that women and children receive:
- 24-hour alarmed secure residence
- Warm beds with linens, towels and hygiene needs
- Nutritious meals
- Access to adult, child and family therapy programs
- 24 hour connection to a counsellor
- Transitional housing, legal assistance and follow-up support
2. Host An Event
The holidays are when we get together with friends, family and coworkers to celebrate the past year. Why not make it a truly meaningful gathering by giving back to the community.
It can be as simple as hosting a holiday bake sale at your office or having friends over for a dinner party and giving your guests the opportunity to make a donation to My Friend’s House.
It is a fun and easy way to support women and children escaping violence and we are here to help you get started. We can assist you with setting up a designated donation page for your event and provide you with more information about the work we do.
Here are some fun event ideas you can host this holiday season in support of My Friends House:
- Holiday Auction
- Holiday Party (entry fee or suggested donation)
- Ice-skating Party
- Polar Plunge
- Ugly Sweater Party
- New Year’s Pledge – Become A Monthly Donor
Any gathering can involve supporting your favourite cause – after all, this is the season of giving. Let us know about your event and we would be happy to work together to ensure your fundraiser is a success.
3. Donate Securities
If you own stocks, bonds or mutual funds, you may be aware that when you convert your investments into cash your capital gain is taxable. Luckily, if you donate securities directly to a charity, capital gain tax is eliminated, allowing you to donate more.
You will receive the charitable tax receipt for the full market value of the security upon completion of the sale. As well, gifts can be given during your lifetime or after, through your estate.
To help facilitate your donation please fill out Charitable Donation of Securities form and send form back to businessmanager@myfriendshouse.ca or give us a call at 705-999-2504 to learn more about tax advantages.
4. Spread The Word
We believe that education and awareness are one of the first steps to affecting change and social media is an effective way to create understanding and support of the work we do.
When you connect with us on social media, you help us to spread the word, attract potential donors and recruit new volunteers. Through social media we can access new audiences and inspire action we wouldn’t be able to do on our own.
Every time you like and share our posts, our impact grows and the issue of gender-based violence becomes an issue that the entire community can take part in addressing and ending.