Cannock Soroptimists would like to thank all of those people who were so very generous with their donations of pre-loved bras, toiletries and teddy bears at St Luke’s Church Fayre. Soroptimists work in many ways to give service, raise funds and raise awareness about issues to enable, educate and empower women who find themselves in difficult situations. An on-going project for the club is to support Pathway, providing help and refuge to women victims of domestic violence. At their stall at the Church Fayre Soroptimists welcomed donations of toiletries, and other items essential to women, to be given to them at a time when they have nothing. President Carole Holdcroft was thrilled to be able to take a car boot full of goods to Pathway! These will be put to immediate use within the refuge.
Soroptimists also continue to do work within the issue of trafficking and are collecting bras which will be sent, through the Purple Teardrop campaign, to Uganda, Mozambique and El Salvador to enable women rescued from trafficking to set up businesses in order to be self sufficient and to keep them out of trafficking and the sex trade. Members of the club were overwhelmed with the response to their request for bras, many women who read about it set up their own collections at work and so far over 600 Bras have been donated – with more promised! This means that 6 women can be helped so far – along with 100 bras each they will be given business training and there will be a support network available to them.
Purple Teardrop is operated by SI Poole and so all bras have to be sent to them. Cannock Soroptimists would like to thank Cannock based delivery specialists EDS Couriers for offering to help with the transportation of the bras to Poole in Dorset: another wonderful example of the generosity of local people.
A new venture for the club is to support the Buddy Bag Foundation with new teddy bears – fluffy toy or knitted varieties – which go into the bag given to children who sadly find themselves in a refuge because of domestic abuse toward a parent. 8 teddy bears were donated, so 8 children will receive love and comfort thanks to the people of Cannock
Many have been in touch with us since our collection point at St Luke’s and so we are continuing to collect bras, toiletries and teddy bears until the end of July.
Should you have items to donate please contact si.cannock@outlook.com or phone 07971 494510 to arrange delivery or collection – we look forward to hearing from you and thank you for your support!
Photo: l to r: Cannock Soroptimists June Bould, Lynne Tuckley, Carole Holdcroft [President, SI Cannock & District]