oslo crisis center for women
by Debby P

Autumn is in the air! As you sort your child’s back to school and winter clothes or rearrange your own closets, don’t despair when you realize something won’t due for another season. Remember the Oslo Crisis Center for Women--an organization that the AWC supports. Your items will be put to good use by women and children in need.

Donations accepted by the Crisis Center’s Women’s Shelter include:

• Seasonal clothes in good condition for women and children

• All household items are always welcomed and very much appreciated. This would include anything that could be used in setting up a new home.

• Children’s toys

• Hobby and handcraft items

Please contact the AWC to arrange for a drop off or pick up of your items.

The Oslo Crisis Center for Women and the AWC

How It Began

Many years ago, at an AWC Meeting, a representative from the Oslo Crisis Center for Women addressed the club. The AWC members present were so moved they immediately decided to collect and deliver donations to the shelter. Several years ago, when Joan C. moved back to the States, the role of contact person between the AWC members and the Crisis Center passed on to me.

Although the telephone number to the shelter, 22 37 47 00, is published, (this number can also be found on your AWC Directory’s Useful Telephone Numbers page) and is operated 24 hours a day, it is very important that the location of the shelter remain secret.

Why It Is Needed

During my first visit to the Oslo Crisis Center for Women, the director gave an overview of the Center and their work. Women at the Center are victims of abuse or violence by relatives or partners. Most of the women are “innvandrere” who have no family or friends to turn to for help in Norway. For new members, this term is given to any non-Norwegian who has immigrated to Norway. This includes you and me!

At that time, there were 18 women and 13 children at the shelter. The bed capacity is around 50. It is usually busiest during the holidays.

The abused women and their children stay at the shelter for a limited time (set by law) and they receive counseling and assistance in the filing of petitions. The shelter allows the women the time and space needed to make the important decisions concerning their future.

How Your Donations Help

Often the woman (and her child/ren) leave the abusive home with only the clothes that they are wearing, leaving all possessions behind. Should a woman decide to begin a new life on her own (with her child/ren), rather than go back into an abusive situation, your donations will help to make this transition easier.

What Happens To Your Donations

The donations collected are delivered to the Center where they are sorted by the volunteers working there. The women living at the Crisis Center are then invited to choose what suits their needs.

What You Can Donate

Due to a lack of storage space at the center, we are asked to donate seasonal clothes for women and children, household items, and toys. Donations of handicraft or hobby items are also welcome. If you would like to donate your time in teaching a handicraft, this would also be most appreciated. Occupying your hands with a hobby or craft can give much needed relief to a mind full of worries. When moving back to the States, keep the Oslo Crisis Center for Women in mind. Your perfectly good items, that are useless in America, will be put to good use.

Oslo Crisis Center for Women/AWC Contact Person

Please feel free to contact me so that we can arrange a convenient time and place to donate all of your unwanted women’s and children’s seasonal clothes, toys, household or hobby items to the Oslo Crisis Center for Women. Thanks for your help!