Community supports women's refuge

CHRISTMAS SPIRIT: Guthrie Boyd, the senior pastor of the Gisborne Assembly of God and Philippa Davies, the manager of Gisborne Women's Refuge. The church has donated a tree with Christmas decorations made from women in Indonesia, to go into the Women's Refuge safe house. Picture by Liam Clayton

GISBORNE people have donated gifts to Women’s Refuge to help support women and children who suffer the consequences of the Christmas “festive season”.

People often over-celebrate and spend more money than they can afford over Christmas, causing stress, which can lead to other problems such as family violence, says Gisborne Womens Refuge manager Philippa Davies.

Other factors like excessive drinking and visits from family members can also cause problems.

“People put a lot of pressure on themselves to meet unrealistic Christmas expectations. There are a lot of issues after Christmas when the reality sinks in on how much has been spent,” Ms Davies said.

Donated gifts like stuffed hearts, blankets and care packages containing essentials like food and shampoo will go to women and children who seek help from the organisation.

People have also donated household possessions including beds, which is amazing because a lot of kids do not have their own, Ms Davies said.

“We have a really generous community and people have been particularly generous this year.”

The Assembly of God gave a Christmas tree, which will be placed inside the Women’s Refuge safe house. It is covered with decorations hand-made by women in Indonesia.

“We wanted to try to help women in Indonesia and women here in the same process,” pastor Jennifer Boyd said.

In previous years only Women’s Refuge and the police were open over Christmas but this year other groups will provide support.

“We are so lucky to be receiving other community support from several services, including the churches and the runanga. The added support means we will be able to help more people.”