Women Aware, an organization in New Brunswick, N.J., serves families of women who have been victims of domestic violence. Rutgers University students Kelly McCormack and Rebecca Constantinople and their sorority sisters at Alpha Chi Omega wanted to brighten the holiday season for families served by Women Aware by donating toys to the children of the abuse victims.
McCormack’s mother, Gwen, is a teacher at the Matheny School, and together they came up with a plan to get this done. Gwen McCormack knitted an afghan, which was raffled off to Matheny staff members. Adult patients at Matheny helped sell the raffle tickets, which raised $129. A Matheny student pulled out the winning ticket, and several students went on a special class outing to pick out the toys – a lesson in how to shop in the community.
Women Aware was founded 30 years ago on the belief that every human being has the right to live free from violence and the fear of violence. It currently serves up to 10 families in a nine-bedroom, 24-bed facility.
Above, from left, Rebecca Constantinople, Matheny student Bozena Geraghty and Kelly McCormack with the toys.
