The refuge assistants 280 people a year and some people arrive at the refuge with nothing but the clothes on their back, which makes St George’s donation all the more important.

St George’s Bathurst branch is donating 110 gift bags to assist women and children in their time of need, with packs containing all brand new products including a towel, toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, tissues, shampoo and conditioner.

Team leader Ange Brown said the support from St George has been absolutely phenomenon.

“People that come to us don’t normally have anything and may have not had a good shower,” she said.

“It’ll be nice for people to be given these items. It gives them a sense of worth.

“The community is very lucky to have a refuge, to help out women and children in need.

“Not many communities have a refuge and they tend to end up on street and their kids are taken away.”  

The Bathurst Women and Children’s Refuge, alongside the Bathurst Homelessness Housing Service for Adults and Families and Wattle Tree House, assisted 5200 people in the past four years.

“It’s important that the refuge is open to donations, of good quality or second hand goods and furniture,” Ms Brown said.

While the gift bags may not reach everyone affected by violence and homelessness, St George Bathurst branch manager Craig McGuire said it’s important the branch helps the community as much as it can. 

“The refuge helps hundreds of women and their children each year escape abusive backgrounds and start afresh in a violence-free environment,” he said.

“These are women with children who relocate without any support or money. They literally have nothing when they leave.

“The branch has worked in conjunction with Ange Brown in discussing how we can help in any way and doing up these gift bags was the best way to make the donation work for the better for the refugee.”