On Saturday 17th October, Soroptimist International of Hornsby hosted a SPRING FLING Afternoon Tea to aid the Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Women’s Shelter. The Shelter provides crisis accommodation for women without dependants who find themselves homeless due to domestic violence, financial hardship or other contributing factors and is a community supported facility.
Soroptimist International of Hornsby has been supporting the Shelter since it was officially opened at the end of 2014 by providing hands on assistance and fundraising. Our main fundraising event for the past four years has been a High Tea at the Thornleigh Community Centre but this year due to Covid 19 restrictions twelve small events were hosted by members in their own homes with a maximum of ten attending. A Raffle was provided with those not able to attend to participate and support the Shelter with the result that over $8,000.00 was raised with the combined Raffle and entry fee for the events.
Just a few facts and figures to understand why the Shelter is so important to support homeless women particularly those experiencing domestic violence. Presently, domestic and family violence is estimated to cost the Australian economy over 21.7billion per annum . One in three women experience physical and or sexual harm by someone known to them and on average one woman a week is killed in Australia by a current or former partner. On any given night over 115,000 people experience homelessness in Australia and until Covid the largest growing number were women over fifty-five.
Soroptimist International is a group of over 75,000 women who are committed to a world where women and girls together; achieve their individual and collective potential; , realise aspirations and have an equal voice in creating strong, peaceful communities worldwide.
For further information contact Lily: 0404 884 978 or Janet: 0419 150 151
