The Women’s Aid Refuge in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire was the recipient of gifts of much needed items for the women and children who stay there for up to six months from the Young Women of the Kettering Ward. Organised by Laurel President, Bethany Mayes, as a result of hearing about the charity at her school, the Wrenn School in Wellingborough, who regularly collect items for the children in the refuge. Bethany contacted Women’s Aid to see if the young women in her ward could help out as a service project. She was given a list of items the women need when they finally leave and go to their own home: basic items like an iron, kettle, toaster, dinner set, mugs, glasses, cutlery and cleaning tools.
| Temple Square is always beautiful in the springtime. Gardeners work to prepare the ground for General Conference. © 2012 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. | 1 / 2 |
When women and children arrive at the refuge they have usually left everything behind to find a safe place to stay. The children are often the hidden victims as they leave everything familiar to them, including pets. They have often suffered from physical, mental or financial abuse and are frightened, scared, alone and lacking in confidence.
A ward member posted a notice about the service project on her employer notice board, RS Components, a company in Corby, whose staff from the electronics department donated items and commented, “When you hear this story, how can you not be moved to help”. Another donor stated, “Its refreshing to see how the things you give go directly to those in need.” The group of Young Women then discussed their project with the Manager of Acacia Lodge, a care home in Irthlingborough, Deborah Thunder, who spoke with her staff to see how they could help. They gave money to the buying of goods rather than buying each other Christmas presents this year and felt it was a very worthwhile cause.
A list of items was sent around the ward and donations soon came flooding in from the young women and sisters, which were then boxed up and wrapped ready to hand over. They invited the Chair of the Board at the Women’s Refuge, Pat, to receive them who declared, “these gifts will make the women who receive them feel very special to know that others are thinking of them. We would like to say a huge thank you to all the young girls at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Kettering for their kindness and understanding.”