Survivors in Shelters are Not Alone During COVID-19
Amid a pivot from bags to masks, I decided to reach out to the local nonprofit, Womankind, and donated 50 handmade masks to one of their local shelters in our hometown of Queens NY. We have plans to donate more.
Gifting a much-needed mask to fellow survivors is our way of letting them know that they are not alone. This reminder is especially important in these harrowing times. A survivor myself, I can relate to the struggles of starting anew.
Though I was able to escape long-term abuse while remaining in my residence with my children, some survivors of abuse are not so lucky. To escape further harm, they have little choice but to relocate and find refuge in a shelter, relying on limited resources and the goodwill of others to regain their footing.
Protecting themselves and their children from COVID-19 has become yet another thing to worry about on survivors' journey to safety and peace. We want our donation of face masks to ease their burden, even if by just a little.
Thank you to everyone who has purchased a mask or ten from us. Your orders help to pave the way. Also a big thank you to all the staff and volunteers committed to supporting survivors.
x Sandra
About Womankind
Womankind is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization working with survivors of gender-based violence to rise above trauma and build a path to healing. For 38 years, Womankind has continued to harness collective resilience and compassion to empower survivors and elevate our consciousness regarding obstacles survivors face. Womankind remains dedicated to bringing critical resources and deep cultural humility to help survivors of all ages and communities find refuge, recovery, and renewal from domestic violence, human trafficking, and sexual violence.
Photo courtesy of Womankind staff