32 - Sunday, December 20, 1992 — North Shore News Christmas Window Donations will help victims of abuse ap HE WAS thrown out of her home Christmas morning band didn’t like the gifts he’d received. By Pamela Lang Features Reporter With her children, she made her way to a shelter for victims of abuse — without clothing, without gifts, without Christmas. Christmas is a time for giv- ing and sharing, a time for families — but not for everyone. Women like the one described, who ended up ata Lower Mainland transition house one recent Christmas - Day, suffer from abuse, and can often suffer more at this ‘time of the year because of heightened family stresses. “Christmas is a high-risk time for violence and abuse,”’ explained Carol Ward-Hall, executive director of the North Shore Crisis Services Society (NSCSS). Not only can relationships become more velatile at this _ time of year, mothers will often try to stay in an abusive situation over the holiday season for the sake of the children, she said. Victims of abuse are often forced to leave their homes ' during this season, and shelters like the Emily Murphy Transi- tion House on the North Shore will be their home for ’ Christmas. The organizations that run these shelters have gifts under the tree for everyone who is staying with them over the holiday season, and a few ex- tra for women and children who might show up on their doorstep on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. The NSCSS offers safe ref- uge to women, with or without children, who are victims of abuse. Through Emily Murphy House, “‘just about everything is provided for them,”’ said Ward-Hall. Although the physical needs like a roof over their heads as well as clothing, food, and other essentials, are provided; the most important things these women need is a safe place and emotional support. ““Women always think it’s their fault,’? said Ward-Hall, adding that the support of counsellors and other women can show them that they are not to blame for an abusive Situation. What they need is a safe place where they can make some decisions about their futures, ‘‘a place to come and think,’’ she said. The society also offers counselling services to both women and children as well as referrals to other community agencies and a crisis line that any woman in an abusive rela- tionship can call if she needs to talk. That number is 987- 3374. : Women can be counselled at the house, on a drop-in basis, or over the telephone, and the society also runs a weekly support group for women and an anger group for men. Ward-Hall explained that they help women of every kind of background. ‘‘Every woman that anyone has ever known.”’ Even an affluent woman might not have the money to leave an abusive husband because he controls it. Others many not want to leave, but just need to talk. “There is . just as much abuse in the Brit- ish Properties as there is in East Vancouver.’’ Women of every socio- economic, religious, ethnic, or sexual orientation are welcome at the house, she said. “The majority of abuse is male-to-female or male-to- children, but we deal with les- bian battering as well.”’ The society is funded by the Ministry of Social Services and through grants from the three North Shore municipalities, as weli as througi donations IIDIDIDIGIIDIGLIGIDIGIGIGIGSI ELLEEPERLEL LRP RS = CHRISTMAS LIGHT LIMOUSINE TOURS TIMOUNNE SERVICE TD Serving every occasion 875-9466 nN Ss Lg SIIPMILDESIGILID IDS from groups, unions, churches, businesses, and individuals in this community. Just to meet their annual budget, Ward-Hall said, they must raise $100,000 to $150,000 annually. The money raised by dona- tions goes towards rent, food, clothing, salaries, and repairs for Emily Murphy House, as well as funding their support programs and the purchase of educational materials. Although they take in an average of 150 to 180 children and !20 to 140 women each year, the house serves the en- tire North Shore and must turn away two women for every one they take in, she said. Because of this, the society will kick off a fundraising drive to renovate and furnish a larger home, purchased by B.C. Housing, that they will lease. The cost of preparing it for occupation is expected to reach $300,000 to $400,000 or more, she said. But the capacity of the home will be nearly doubled from 10 to 18 women or children. Anyone interested in helping the North Shore Crisis Services Society over Christmas, or as they raise money to expand their capacity, should call 987-1773. Pe a Ag Stas NEWS photo Cindy Goodman WOMEN WHO are victims of abuse depend on the services of the North Shore Crisis Services Society, and executive director Carol Ward-Hall depends on the financial help of the community to buy what is needed including food for the Emily Murphy Transition House and Christmas gifts for the wamen and children staying there. ‘GEM JEWELLERS _ 25th Anniversary Sale gy’ | GO FOR QLD. Shop and Compare Price and Quality! | Opal Watches 25 % OFF reguiay Price i "Where quality is the difference” 988-5011 GEM & Capilano Mall