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Newsletter

Beanie Babies for the Brave: How one mother and daughter are making a difference

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How can a little stuffed animal help women and children rebuild their lives after abuse? By being auctioned off and having the proceeds directed to Interval House! That’s what Beanie Babies for the Brave is all about.

Morgan and her daughter, Stacey, have been collecting Beanie Babies since Stacey was just five years old. Now 31, Stacey decided it was time to part with her beloved collection and donate it to Interval House, so the organization could sell the classic toys and raise funds for their programs helping women and children recovering from abuse.

“Stacey and I both agreed that we would rather give them to a child or to an organization that helps people instead of selling them online for ourselves,” explains Morgan. The thoughtful mother-daughter duo donated 70 Beanie Babies in their original packaging to be auctioned online with 100% of the proceeds benefitting Interval House.

“When I was trying to find a place to donate the Beanie Babies to, it was important to me personally that it benefit women and children experiencing abuse,” explains Morgan. “I am a survivor of abuse and I understand how important a place like Interval House is.”

Do you have your own idea for a unique fundraiser or gift-in-kind donation? Contact Cass Nagar at cnagar@intervalhouse.ca 416-924-1411 ext. 238

Behind the Scenes at the Interval House Renovation — See how your gifts helped transform the shelter!

By | Newsletter, News

The first thing most people notice when they walk into the newly renovated rooms at Interval House is how bright and cheery everything feels. Your support helped transform the shelter’s 12 residential bedrooms and six bathrooms, including the main floor accessible suite.

“This renovation is something I’ve been wanting to do since I first started working here three years ago,” explains Cathy Leekam, Facilities Manager. “The shelter is used by so many people and it was getting really run down, especially the bathrooms. It’s hugely satisfying to see them freshened up, and how happy the residents are with it.”

Thanks to donor support, Cathy’s team recently completed the 3 month renovation project. Bedrooms were refreshed and bathrooms updated with new sinks, vanities and fixtures. The team also changed out flooring, added new window blinds and put on a fresh coat of paint. It was so important to bring the aging infrastructure up to date.

“What I’ve always heard from clients is that our shelter is very welcoming and warm,” says Cathy. “It’s nice that the bedrooms and kitchen are now part of that. Everything feels very fresh and welcoming, like a home.”

“Working at Interval House has been one of the most rewarding jobs I’ve ever had. You can see the direct result that your work makes. It’s a concrete change you make in people’s lives every day.”

 

Summer 2018 Newsletter

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It’s hard to believe, but Interval House turned 45 this year. That means that for almost half a century,we’ve been a place of refuge for women fleeing intimate partner violence and their children.

Celebrating 45 years of empowering women

  • 1973 Interval House is founded by 12 feminists to help women and children cope and heal after abuse
  • 1980 The first man is hired as a counsellor for the Children’s Program to help model positive, respectful interactions between different genders
  • 1998 Our Building Economic Self-Sufficiency Program (BESS) is founded, allowing us to reach even more survivors with crucial services

Inside this issue:

Winter 2018 Newsletter

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Many women come to Interval House so wounded and traumatized they can’t even describe it. They’re not ready or able to talk about their experiences. They don’t want to relive their trauma by recounting it to a counselor. Sometimes, they’ve been living with abuse for so long they don’t even completely recognize it.

Inside this issue:

Summer 2017 Newsletter

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A small band of volunteers were committed to providing a crisis centre for women and children who were fleeing abuse–they knew it needed to feel like a home. They put up a sign on a bulletin board asking women to help get something starts. With just a handful of committed supporters, Interval House opened in 1973 as the first shelter for abused women and their children in North America

Inside this issue:

Winter 2017 Newsletter

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“My healing began in the Interval House kitchen. Whenever I needed support, I knew I could head to the kitchen and find someone to talk to…The kitchen is truly the heart of our home. More than helping to feed our bodies, it helps to nourish our souls.”

Inside this Issue:

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Summer newsletter 2016 cover image

Summer 2016 Newsletter

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“Thinking back on it now, I don’t remember seeing my mom sad. It’s amazing how parents can shelter kids
from this kind of stuff. I didn’t even know that it wasn’t our home. I just thought it was a really fun place.”

Inside this Issue:

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