Patricia Giles Centre for Non-Violence and Hope Community Services have been selected as the 2023 beneficiaries of Arc Infrastructure’s annual Christmas donation.
This year, Arc will donate $15,000 to each of the two organisations to support their invaluable work empowering those at-risk or impacted by homelessness and/or family and domestic violence.
Patricia Giles Centre for Non-Violence provides a range of services and programs for families experiencing and escaping family and domestic violence.
Patricia Giles Centre for Non-Violence General Manager, Programs and Clinical Services Julie McCulloch explained their Christmas donation from Arc would be used to provide gifts for women and children for the holidays through their Christmas Giving Room.
“Christmas is a difficult time for those families escaping domestic violence but the Christmas Giving Room provides vulnerable women and children in our community with the feeling of hope and not being alone,” Julie said.
“The staff at Pat Giles established a Letter to Santa Program where children in our services write their wish list and we support the families to access the presents on the list. The kind donation from Arc Infrastructure will make such an impact on the 875 women and children currently being supported across our suite of services.
“The Christmas Giving Room offers a tailored approach to meet the individual needs of everyone in our service. We will be using the generous funds donated this year to fulfil Christmas wishes and purchase items that have been specifically chosen.”
Hope Community Services (HOPE) offers various services including alcohol and other drug services, mental health services, the Outreach & Street Yarning mobile support service and the Mara Pirni Healing Centre, a hub for people experiencing family and domestic violence.
Mara Pirni Healing Centre is the first regional family and domestic violence hub in Western Australia and offers counselling, advocacy, safety planning, cultural healing, family support, family and domestic violence awareness and prevention activities.
HOPE General Manager Goldfields North Sarah Nickson said the organisation will be allocating their donation to the Christmas hampers, care packs, Christmas lunch and presents for women and children in Kalgoorlie.
“Healing goes beyond safety plans and risk assessments. To heal, victim-survivors need to unlearn feelings of unworthiness and accept that they are deserving of good things, care and softness,” Sarah said.
“Children growing up in family violence also need time and space to feel safe, so that the weight of the world can lift and they can just be a child.
“Hope Community Services and Mara Pirni Healing Place will use the Arc Infrastructure donation to provide such things. Alongside home care packs and school packs for victim-survivors and their children, we will also create events and activities that support these families as they begin to heal.”
The Christmas donation recipients align with the
16 Days in WA campaign that is currently underway in our State until Sunday, 10 December 2023.
The campaign takes its inspiration from the global 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence.
The 2023 campaign theme is Stopping Family and Domestic Violence: Play your part.
Arc Infrastructure CEO Murray Cook said the business was proud to announce support of the two organisations during the campaign.
“Both Patricia Giles Centre for Non-Violence and Hope Community Services work tirelessly to provide shelter and support to vulnerable members of our communities,” Mr Cook said.
“I’m pleased Arc Infrastructure can play a small role in helping to keep women and children happy and safe these holidays.”
To learn more about the two causes, visit
www.patgilescentre.org.au and
hopecommunityservices.org.au
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