Members of the Prince Albert and Shellbrook Royal Purple chapters collected and donated 60 bags of items to the Safe Shelter for Women. (Susan McNeil/paNOW)

By Susan McNeil

Purple Thursday

Second Purple Thursday delivers 60 bags to P.A. women’s shelter

Oct 20, 2023 | 3:34 PM

This is the second year that members of the Prince Albert and Shellbrook Royal Purple Lodges marked Purple Thursday with donations to help meet the needs of people fleeing violent relationships.

Karen Knutson is a member in Prince Albert and said the statistics around brain injuries suffered by people in violent relationships were what led the group to collect bags of helpful items for dispersal at the shelter.

“With domestic violence you can get hit in the head and you can have a brain injury. And it doesn’t only happen to women, it affects children and men as well in relationships,” she said.

When people leave a violent home situation, they frequently leave with nothing so the Royal Purple has stepped up with Purple Thursday.

Bins were set up around Prince Albert and in Shellbrook to collect things like shampoo, conditioner, mittens, journals, pens, scarves, and toiletries.

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The groups filled 60 bags with the items and on Thursday, delivered them to the Safe Shelter for Women.

Brenda Lee Pellerin is with the Safe Shelter for Women and said the bags mean a lot to their residents.

“We consider them blessing bags. When a lady comes in with her children, she doesn’t always have adequate supplies because she’s had to flee in a hurry. These bags are a godsend for us,” she said.

One of the places people end up when leaving with the clothes on their backs and children in tow is the Safe Shelter.

Globally, one in three women will experience interpersonal violence and, of those, one in eight get a brain injury.

The 60 bags are a significant donation but in a province that has twice the national average of reported violence against women and girls, they will be used quickly.

The Safe Shelter can house nine women, plus their children, and is usually at full capacity.

“We have a wait list for people wanting to come in from different parts of the province and as far as Alberta and Manitoba occasionally,” said Pellerin.

Others wanting to support the shelter can donate clothing, pajamas, crafts, and colouring items.

They also take furniture such as unwanted couches, beds, and other household goods.

‘We’re starting from the ground up but we’ve had a lot of success. Success isn’t always monetary, it’s them feeling empowered to start a new life without that partner,” said Pellerin.

Purple Thursday is the third Thursday of October every year.

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susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com