Zonta donation helps South West women in need

A local advocacy club has given a helping hand to a South West women’s support service after it found it was in desperate need of funding to cope with an influx of families and women seeking aid.

Zonta Club of Bunbury donated $740 to South West Refuge on Thursday to help the refuge buy necessary supplies.

Advocacy chair Tyril Houghton said the money had been raised by club member Kimberley Robbins, who repurposed containers with prizes such as jewellery and sold them as a lucky dip in the community.

“We had planned to buy things for the refuge, but after speaking with them, we realised it was money they needed,” she said.

Refuge chief executive Ali White said the refuge had been inundated with families and single women who have fled their situations.

She said the service was desperate for more accommodation in the area, as the refuge and safe houses were full of families.

“We’re trying to find resources in terms of children’s equipment, so money will help to purchase that,” Ms White said.

“It’s the little things we don’t get funded for by the Government.”

Ms White called on the community to see if any families with children who were now grown up had a cubbyhouse or toy cars that were no longer in use.

“A lot of kids feel very secure if they can hide in tunnels and cubbies, so we’d love to have a cubbyhouse for them to play outside,” she said.