THUNDER BAY – Aymaral Jarayeva may only be nine, but she knows there are far too many women in Thunder Bay who need help getting out of abusive relationships.
The Grade 5 Woodcrest Public School student on Thursday joined her classmates at Royal LePage Lannon Realty to help pack the final few baskets in this year’s Basketeer program with household goods that will be distributed to women at three shelters in need of a fresh start.
“I wanted to help out today because I’m a girl and I don’t like to see other girls who are abused,” the youngster said. “I’m helping, so it’s like I’m doing a good deed. And I love doing good deeds.
Her classmate, Sarah Brown said the baskets are a great way to help the women who will receive them make a fresh start in life.
“It’ll make them feel like they’re wanted,” said the 10-year-old, whose class collected items to include in the baskets.
“We brought things like bathroom supplies and kitchen utensils.”
The program, which began in the Toronto area, was brought to Thunder Bay in 2010 and in the ensuing eight years has seen 660 baskets worth more than a combined $130,000 put together and distributed to Faye Peterson House and Beendigan Inc.
This year they’ve added Hope House, which is managed by Adult and Teen Challenge.
Royal LePage’s Christine Lannon said the baskets are a beacon for women who are facing the idea of starting over, many with little or nothing left to their names.
“This is a message of hope for women leaving their domestically abused homes. It’s a message from the community letting them know that we care and that it’s a new beginning,” Lannon said. “And it gives them incentive not to go back to their abusive situations.
“It’s an excellent chance for a new beginning.”
Kaitlin Trevisan, a marketing co-ordinator at Royal LePage Lannon Realty, heads up the local Basketeers program, said they looked at what women starting over might needs to take that leap of faith.
“We have kitchen baskets, bathroom and bedroom baskets,” she said. “They’re starting over, so they need everything.”
Donations are still being accepted through 9 a.m. on Friday at their Barton Street office and will be delivered starting at noon to the shelters.
