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| Denise house gets a library |
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| Sandra McCormack, of the Denise House, shows off some new
books and a brand new library that recently opened thanks to
donations from both the Rotary Club of Oshawa and Town and Country Contracting. |
By Lindsey Cole The Oshawa Express The Denise House is a place of refuge. The shelter for abused women and their children sees more than 400 women and children each year. And now these women can read to their children in a brand new library – thanks to kind donations from the Rotary Club of Oshawa and Town and Country Contracting. In a small corner of the shelter, Sandra McCormack of the Denise House, highlights the books and chairs that give women and their kids some downtime. “The kids enjoy it. In this day in age it’s important to promote the value of reading,” she says, adding the Rotary Club of Oshawa gave $3,500 for the library, while the contracting company constructed and the gave the materials at no charge.“It’s a quiet time, a relaxing time.” McCormack says the library allows a reprieve for these troubled women and children who are often running from bad situations. She says the library is already a success with children running in and out to grab their favourite books. “They very much welcome the opportunity to read with the kids,” she explains of the mothers who use the shelter.“Books are very expensive and its not as if some of these women can go to the library with their children. I think it’s about being together.“We try as much as we can to make the Denise House a home. It’s very important that they view it as a home. Part of our philosophy is the more comfortable, homey things can be the more women can get on with their lives.” The library has been a dream of the Denise House for many years and McCormack says it was nice to see it finally come to fruition.“There has to be some downtime and fun time. There has to be an outlet.” The Denise House currently has 27 beds and women can stay there for eight to 10 weeks. The shelter gets as many as 3,000 crisis calls in a year and also has outreach staff that will meet with women in their communities. |
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©2008 Dowellman Publishing Corp, All Rights Reserved
©2008 Dowellman Publishing Corp, All Rights Reserved
