Each year I choose one or two community non profit organisations that I can support in kind or with donations. This year I have chosen to support Protea Place Women’s Support Centre because their mission is so close to my heart.
As an early teen my mother left an abusive marriage and what she was left with was debt, no financial support and four children to raise. She was a beacon of strength and worked very hard to care for us and fortunately, we were never in a situation where we found ourselves without a roof over our heads. It was tough and often we relied on the help of community organisations. Without those groups our Christmas’s would have been a lot less cheery.
Today it’s not so easy for women who need help in tough situations. Many women who find themselves needing to find accommodation are being pushed out due to rising prices, cost of living and many have not worked for years as they’ve been raising children.
Protea Place Womens Support Centre exists to support these women and all women who need a place to go during the day where they can get support for free, they can be fed a home made meal, they can have a shower and find some warm clothes or clothes for a job interview. For those who are without a home, they can access a laundry and facilities to apply for jobs online. They have wifi, telephone and internet access.
Possibly my favourite part of Protea Place’s offerings though, is their Welcome Home Project. Protea Place do not typically house women, but when a woman has been without a home for a long period of time or has had to leave a dangerous situation in a hurry she will often have only the clothes on her back.
Finding a home in this situation is amazing and wonderful, however they have nothing to fill that house with and have spent all of their savings or even borrowed to secure the home. There’s nothing left for furnishings, cleaning supplies, cutlery and crockery, beds, bedding, towels. All the things those of us more fortunate take for granted and forget about.
The Protea Place Welcome Home Project helps to furnish and fill these family homes and make sure that these women feel cherished and safe in our community. This can be the hand that a woman needs to get her life back on track and to feel valued within our community. Something that is so precious and important and I want to support this amazing group in any way that I can.
I would also love if you could help to support them as well. They are currently creating another support centre in Warwick so that there is support for the many women in these situations in that area too.
Here are some ways you can support Protea Place
By making a direct donation here: Donate | Protea Place Women’s Support Centre
By offering items that their women need like those listed here: Personal Items We Need – Facebook Post
By attending one of their fantastic events like these: Events | Protea Place Women’s Support Centre
It would also be wonderful if you could jump into Facebook and follow the ladies to help spread the word about the wonderful work that they do.
Here are some of the images we created of the amazing team who work there.
The incredible, hard working and dedicated board members who help keep Protea Place running.
In absolutely typical fashion the girls knew that I am a non alochol drinker and had a beautiful glass of non alcholic champers for me on arrival for their shoot. They are a truly warm hearted and welcoming bunch and no doubt, any woman in need will feel welcomed and wanted there.
Again, if you can support Protea Place in any way please do. Here are the ways you can help them.
By making a direct donation here: Donate | Protea Place Women’s Support Centre
By offering items that their women need like those listed here: Personal Items We Need – Facebook Post
By attending one of their fantastic events like these: Events | Protea Place Women’s Support Centre