Gifting the moms: Consider supporting annual outreach for battered women

I have been working for more than 20 years as a Social Worker. Most of these years I worked closely with women in the system.  When I became an Independent Consultant with Arbonne International, a health and wellness company, I knew Arbonne International had been supporting several fundraisers over the years, which I totally embraced. Therefore, I decided that as part of my business, I wanted to focus on giving back to my community.

My first job, fresh out of college, was in a battered women’s shelter in Ottawa, Ontario. From working in the system throughout my career, I knew there was a need. Did you know that, at any given time, there are 60 to 75 women, either alone or with their children, living in one of the many women’s shelters in New Hampshire? There are many charities that serve the children of New Hampshire during the holidays, but these moms, whom often leave their homes to protect their family from harm with nothing more than the clothes on their back, go unrecognized.

In September 2010, I reached out to Bridges, the battered women’s shelter in Nashua, and the NH Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, in order to set up a fundraiser in which we would gift these women with beautiful, healthy, quality personal care Arbonne products for Christmas. It did not take long before other fellow Arbonne consultants began taking part in our efforts.

Our goal is to make a difference in these women’s lives and help them understand their value at a very critical time. We chose to focus on this group because we feel they are underserved. People from my team and other Arbonne teams in this area, as well as other states, have been able to gift all the women in battered women’s shelters in New Hampshire, as well as some pockets in Massachusetts, Arkansas, Missouri, Oregon, Maine, and Virginia, during the past five holiday seasons. Since 2012, we have also been serving some women living in transition living programs. This is the next step in their journey as they exit the shelters to start rebuilding their lives.

We want to send out a message loud and clear to as many women as we can “YOU ARE WORTH IT.” You are deserving of good healthy products. We served well over 500 women in 2013 and 2014. I know that with your help we can do even MORE in 2015.

Tax deductable donations in any amount are greatly appreciated – $40 buys a Arbonne shower set at our cost and I will donate the cost of shipping and wrapping. One set lasts about four months. Receipts from the shelters will be provided for tax purposes.