Hey guys!
I’m back. And this time with something legitimately important to write about. I don’t blame you for not immediately buying that, because I’ve been know to treat cheesy dips and Netflix binges as issues of EXTREME importance. Really, this blog is an extended version of “The Girl Who Cried IMPORTANT.”
But this time? I actually mean it. This is important.
For the next few weeks, I’ll be participating in the #WrapHerInCourage campaign, organized by Missions Services. What’s that mean? It’s simple: All November long, you can buy a purple scarf from me, just like the one I’m wearing here, and 100% of what you spend will go directly to Inasmuch House in Hamilton, Ontario.
Inasmuch House a part of the Ontario Association of Interval and Transition Houses, and devoted to giving women who have experienced violence and abuse a safe place to stay while they rebuild their lives and return to the community. Their goal isn’t just to house women, but to help them regain the confidence and strength to live a healthy and independent life again. Through this campaign, you can participate in this truly-life changing work just by purchasing a $15 scarf.
If that alone isn’t enough to move you, here’s the context in which Inasmuch House operates every single day:
On average 20-30 women a year are murdered in the province of Ontario alone. It is the number two reason for calls to the emergency police services. Additionally, it overwhelmingly affects children in the areas of: focus at school; relationships with peers and adults; increased risk of participating in high risk behaviours such as substance abuse; and increased risk of anxiety and depression. During the month of November, everyone across Ontario is invited to participate in showing abused women across the province that they have our support. The United Nations has designated November 25th (the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women) as the first of 16 days of Action to eliminate Violence Against Women across the world. We are asking Ontarians to wear our purple scarf especially on these days to show your courage to abused women and their children that their community supports them and they are not alone.
The issue of women abuse beyond hard. It’s beyond complicated. But the Wrapped In Courage campaign gives you an easy and simple way to support these women, and seek justice for those whose lives have been marred by abuse.
If you’re local to the Hamilton area, and interested in purchasing a scarf, please get in touch with me! PM me on Instagram. Message me on Facebook, or even just write your email address as a comment on this entry, and I promise I’ll be in touch.
Thanks for reading, and I hope to hear from you soon!
– Julie