Residents of the Living Care nursing home at Green Hills have thrown their support behind Hunter Valley domestic violence service Destiny Haven.
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The residents are collecting small gifts, toiletries, supplies and letters of love for local women fleeing the terror of violent and abusive relationships.
Destiny Haven CEO and founder Janine Epere said community support for the haven’s residents, affectionately called diamonds, was vital, as many had lost friends and families.
“Christmas can be particularly challenging as many will not receive any gifts or have any contact with their families,” she said.
“To see their faces light up when they receive gifts and letters from people in the community is precious.
“They are very moved and often speechless to discover people have taken the time to do something so special for them.”
Living Care program organiser and diversion therapist Felicity Bain-Smith said concerned residents had approached her after hearing reports of domestic violence in the Hunter Region.
“The residents have a need to have their voices heard and they wanted to lend their hands to this cause,” Mrs Bain-Smith said.
“Destiny Haven’s program takes vulnerable women, rough diamonds, and helps them to shine.
“And I see the ladies in our home [who are helping the refuge] as beautiful diamonds shining already.”
Resident and Senior Citizen of the Year 2007 Nell Lantry said she had always believed it was better to give than to receive.
“I think it’s long overdue that we deal with domestic violence,” she said.
“It’s something very important to me.”
Mrs Bain-Smith said it was particularly important for grassroots groups to support domestic violence services in regional areas because they lacked the resources of their metropolitan counterparts.
“It’s so difficult to break the cycle [of violence] but places like Destiny Haven offer a new lease on life – a chance to survive.”
Mrs Bain-Smith said the residents hoped their actions would inspire others to give supplies and tokens of support to the cause.
She said they would be happy to package any donations and get them to Destiny Haven if they were dropped at the Living Care facility at Martin Close in Green Hills between 9.30am and 3.30pm Monday to Friday.
