When Claire* first arrived at the shelter, she wouldn’t make eye contact with anyone. When she spoke, her voice was so quiet it was almost a whisper. Conversely, her seven-year-old son Kevin* was aggressive and impatient to the extent that he had to be separated from the other children.
When a counsellor asked Kevin what he hoped for, he replied, “for Mom not to cry so much.” Claire was also looking for things that most of us take for granted. “I want someone to love us, not hurt us. I want a decent job and a fresh start in life.” Having a safe place to stay and people who care enough to provide help and counselling is what women like Claire need to get that fresh start. Fortunately, those safe places exist in many Canadian communities.
The Royal LePage Shelter Foundation supports 150 shelters across the country and funds programs such as violence-prevention for high school kids and initiatives that help at-risk women become more economically self-sufficient. Our goal is to restore hope and rebuild lives. Thanks to friends like you and the generous support of the Royal LePage Realtors who donate a portion of their sales commissions, Claire is gaining the strength she needs to start fresh and to find a safe place for Kevin to grow into a caring, compassionate man.
You can help us create safer homes and communities. To make an online donation, please visit www.royallepage.ca/donations. If you’d like to find out more about the Shelter Foundation, go to www.royallepage.ca/shelter.
*Names have been changed.
Royal LePage Shelter Foundation
Charitable Registration Number: 88253 1304 RR0001
**article from Royal LePage**