Tomika Riley
Friends With Dignity volunteer
TOMIKA Riley believes everyone has a right to feel safe and loved in their own home.
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But sadly for too many families, this is not a reality.
Ms Riley has become so passionate about supporting victims of domestic violence that she has become a volunteer for the Newcastle branch of Friends With Dignity – a not-for-profit organisation that provides practical help to people escaping abusive situations to set up new homes and new lives.
The organisation does this by offering non-perishable foods, toiletries, clothing, furniture and toys to help them make a house a home.
“There are many ways in which Friends With Dignity help, but the main way is by setting up ‘sanctuaries’ for families,” Ms Riley said.
“When a family is leaving refuge and is able to secure housing, often they are unable to then source all of the household items most of us take for granted, and that’s where Friends With Dignity step in.”
The organisation receives a referral from the refuge or domestic violence service working with the family, and puts together a wish list specific to the family’s needs.
“We post this on our Facebook page and wait for the offers of donation to come in,” Ms Riley said.
“We then have a coordinated team that collect these donations, deliver them to the house and turn the empty house into a home, a ‘sanctuary’.
“Friends With Dignity literally turns an empty shell into a home the family can walk straight into and begin living the minute they receive the keys back.
“And it’s all done in seven days.”
Everything to fill the home is donated. This includes furniture, bedding, linen, kitchenware, electrical goods, white-goods and toys, collected on a needs basis.
Occasionally, they will also put out a call for donations of school supplies, such as books, bags, and drink bottles.
Ms Riley has several friends who had been affected by domestic violence.
“It is a huge problem at the moment in Australia and our society,” she said.
“I wasn’t able to do much to help those friends I watched go through that, so I want to do whatever I can to help others going through it now.”
Those wanting to help can “Like” the Friends With Dignity Facebook page and look out for the calls for donations, or become a volunteer.
“All of our volunteers work, study and have families, so we all vary greatly in the time and capacity we are able to commit but every little contribution makes a big difference.”
Visit friendswithdignity.com.au to find out more.
