Since the beginning of May, the Revelstoke Women’s Shelter has disbursed over 20 art kits to women and their children in this community. The art kits, which are funded through the shelter’s new COVID-19 social response program, are part of the shelter’s larger women’s outreach program, Moving Forward. The Revelstoke Women’s Shelter recently received funds from the Columbia Basin Trust to offer social support to isolated or vulnerable men and women in the community during the pandemic and beyond through its peer group support groups and individual outreach, which provides support in obtaining essential goods such as food, prescriptions and more.
“The idea emerged as a way to continue our art program online. Providing individuals, children and families with the supplies to explore creativity and connection while at home, and seeing the excitement in the Moving Forward community has inspired me to keep expanding the art kit program for any Revelstoke family,” says Moving Forward Coordinator, Anneliese Neweduk.
For one single mother, the kit has provided her with an activity she can do with her daughter. “I am so grateful for this art kit,” she says. “Not only does it provide me with art supplies I could otherwise not afford, it also gives me some fun activities I can do with my daughter since she is not able to go back to day care or pre-school yet.”
A child uses the art kit provided by the Women’s Shelter
The kits vary based on family size and can include anything from watercolour paints and paper, acrylic paint, canvases, paintbrushes, adult and children’s colouring books, and more, and are one of the many services offered through the Moving Forward program.
The Moving Forward women’s program also offers weekly yoga classes via zoom, and has recently moved its art classes and ukulele sessions to zoom as well. The program also offers self-care tips through its mailing list, as well as other occasional workshops, such as vision board making, and more. More recently, the program also started providing clients with small tomato and herb pots as well as strawberry starts (upon request), and also released its cook book, which is made up of recipes from transition house clients, staff and program participants. Download the cookbook.
The program is open to any woman in the community who feels she could benefit from a supportive group setting. Women interested in the program should contact Anneliese Neweduk, Coordinator: movingforward@telus.net or phone 250 814 8387.
Any woman wishing to flee an abusive situation should call the 24 hour crisis line: 250 837 1111.
For more information please contact:
Anneliese Neweduk, Coordinator
250 814 8387
Lynn Loeppky, Executive Director