A charity to help domestic violence victims says women often escape with very little essential items, as they prioritise getting children to safety. Photo: 123RF
Organisers of a domestic violence appeal hope more than 1000 people will donate a handbag filled with toiletries this year for women in need.
Love Grace is an international appeal in the name of Grace Millane, who was killed in an Auckland hotel room in 2018 by a man she met on a dating app.
Kylie-Ann Kearney is running the New Zealand faction.
Twenty-nine locations around the motu will accept bags of essential items to be donated to women's refuges.
"The basics are toothpaste and toothbrush, shower gel, shampoo and conditioner, deodorant, and sanitary products," Kearney said.
"Normally the women that receive these, they quite often have to leave under extreme circumstances and sometimes don't have time to pack any bags or anything for themselves, because they may often have children with them and are prioritising them".
She hoped this year's appeal would be bigger than ever.
"I am really hoping that we'll do more than 1000. That's my goal because I got the 1000 last time, so I'm hoping we can do more than that."
The collection was previously run by BNZ, but this year the donations would be coordinated by a group of dedicated women.
Kearney put out a call for help on the Love Grace NZ Facebook page.
"I had so many people last time asking how they could help. So, I thought why not reach [out] to them and see if they want to get involved, and the response was amazing.
"I'm really stoked we were able to get so many locations confirmed around New Zealand."
So far, Love Grace has supported more than 15,600 domestic abuse victims world-wide.
The appeal begins on 14 February, Valentine's Day, and ends on 8 March, International Women's Day, with 29 collection points throughout the country.