Stamford Woman Aiming to Deliver Hope to Women in Refuges This Christmas
After spending Christmas in a refuge herself, Jess is on a mission to make sure no woman feels forgotten during the festive season
A Stamford woman who once spent Christmas in a refuge is working to bring comfort to women facing the same situation this year.
Jess, who is hand-delivering one hundred and fifty gift bags to women in refuges across Lincolnshire and Leicestershire, says her own experience inspired her to take action.
Women in refuges are generally forgotten
“I spent Christmas with my two children in a refuge. It was pretty rubbish. So I decided that I was never going to be going through that situation, to then come out the other end and do nothing. So I decided I wanted to help women.”
Jess explained that at Christmas, while children in refuges often receive gifts, mothers can feel invisible.
“Women in refuges are generally forgotten. The children get gifts and there's lots of Christmas cheer and spirit, which is fantastic, but the mums are the ones that have to keep that Christmas magic going, and sometimes they are not keeping it together themselves.”
She says the simple act of receiving a present can have a huge impact:
“You really are alone and waking up there not having any presents to open. It's knowing that someone cares enough about you to wrap a present for you. I think that is so difficult.”
Jess’s campaign also involves working with local businesses, selling empowering cards, and collecting food vouchers to help women access essentials.
These gifts are giving dignity, they're giving hope
She says the project is about more than just gifts.
“I think when you are holding it together, some of the people in there like I was, are mothers. You're trying to hold it together for your kids and to feel like no one is holding it together for you or thinking about you is really difficult. So these gifts are giving that—they're giving dignity, they're giving hope.”