Earlier this month, Refuge Victoria was proud to host an afternoon tea to thank the generous individuals, families, workplaces, and community groups who support our work with people escaping family violence. Hosted by our staff and Board, the event was a heartfelt moment of connection and recognition.
The afternoon tea brought together people from diverse professional and cultural backgrounds, each with their own reasons for donating and volunteering, and bringing unique skills and expertise.
In her welcome, Refuge Victoria CEO, Janet Jukes, shared a few ways in which our donors and volunteers support the work we do. From sporting organisations giving families in refuge a day out, to professionals who roll up their sleeves to help at working bees, lawyers and media organisations running fundraising campaigns, school kids rallying their school to raise money and awareness, charities that work alongside us to deliver the supports families need, to organisations that run annual Christmas and Easter donation and fundraising drives, the list goes on and your support helps us to meet real needs in real time.
The afternoon tea featured a guest speaker, talking about her own experiences with family violence and refuge, and how Refuge Victoria had provided her with not just protective hiding, but the supports she needed to rebuild her life. It was a deeply moving testimonial and a wonderful opportunity for our supporters to see the end result of their efforts.
After the speeches, guests relaxed over afternoon tea, meeting staff and sharing with each other their own stories. Those who have been supporting Refuge Victoria for many years chatted with others who have just begun their support but are full of ideas and passion. It was an atmosphere of excitement and inspiration, and the fellowship that comes from a shared goal.
We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who attended our supporter afternoon tea. If you missed out, don’t worry, we will be holding more supporter events in the future, and we would love to see you there.
If you or your workplace are interested in donating to or fundraising for Refuge Victoria, let’s chat – email donations@refugevictoria.org.au
If you or a group of your colleagues want to learn more about volunteering at Refuge Victoria, email hr@refugevictoria.org.au