NEWS RELEASE
GREENHAVEN WOMEN'S SHELTER
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Greenhaven Women’s Shelter has been nominated for the Aviva Community Fund and needs your help.
Greenhaven first opened its doors on Oct. 4, 1991. The local shelter for women is dedicated to promoting the rights of women and their children through public education, advocacy and social change.
Greenhaven has been approved to build a new facility in the Orillia area, however, the organization must raise an additional $1 million before it can open its doors.
Greenhaven’s Aviva nomination will help fund the building of a Play Zone.
The Play Zone will become an interactive outdoor area which provides a view of Lake Couchiching, integrates with the neighbourhood context and stimulates the senses of the children playing in the Play Zone. This part of the secured women's shelter is adjacent to the kitchen and cooking areas of the shelter thus allowing women with children of appropriate age to play outside while they prepare meals for their children.
The Play Zone will consist of a wood privacy fence to protect children and their mothers, a walking path, a story time amphitheatre, a dinosaur dig, a multi-use play structure, sand play and log climbing gym and an outdoor patio.
The Play Zone will be large enough to allow for social gatherings such as children's birthday parties and social events such as barbecues or other celebrations making this investment versatile and accessible.
“The Play Zone will provide women and their children a sense of normalcy during a time when their lives have been turned upside down. The interactive Play Zone will peak the interests of the children’s five senses and be a source of enjoyment,” Ligaya Byrch, Chair of the Capital Fundraising Committee.
In supporting this proposal, the Play Zone will ensure that women and their children can remain in their home community as long as possible and engage in activities of daily living such as outdoor play without the threat of violence.
The Play Zone will allow children to interact with their peers and gain confidence and resilience through these opportunities to interact and learn alongside and from their peers. Further, the Play Zone allows for the opportunity for on-site staff and counsellors to engage with children in a play-based manner.
It is felt that Play Zone benefits the community at its core by ensuring that local women and their children can build their confidence and resilience through support and programs to leave violence they are experiencing in their home.
Greenhaven Shelter asks the people of Orillia to vote online for the Play Zone proposal. Voting takes place Sept. 25, 2018 at noon until Oct. 4, 2018. Every vote counts.
You can vote by logging into this link. Aviva will award the top 50 nominations with the top votes $10,000. Please help Greenhaven make play and smiles possible!
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