Bags of joy for women in need

Caregivers from St John of God Raphael Service Blacktown donate gifts and bags for local Women’s Cottage.

15 May 2017

Pre-loved handbags found new homes recently when caregivers from St John of God Raphael Services Blacktown donated bags filled with gifts for The Women’s Cottage in Richmond.

The bags, filled with toiletries, jewellery and scarves are being given out to women, who are or have experienced violence and abuse, when they attend the community based support and resource centre.

St John of God Raphael Services Blacktown Manager Associate Professor Maya Drum said the gifts acted as a gesture to remind the women that they had wider community support.

“This gesture from all of our team was with the hope that it might brighten up the day for the women and they would get some joy out of the gifts,” she said.

“Not only do we hope that the women get some benefit out of the donations but help them feel they are supported more widely.”

The Women’s Cottage Manager Nicolle Lewis said they were thrilled when they received the bags.

“We have been handing out the bags to women who have come in over the past week and they have been accepted with joy,” she said.

About The Women’s Cottage

The Women’s Cottage supports women who are experiencing or have experienced violence or abuse. The Cottage has specialist trained and experienced Women’s Advocacy Violence Emergency support workers who can assist women who are survivors of violence and abuse. Find out more.