Buller community supports women in need

Buller locals showed their support for the 2025 Love Grace Handbag Appeal recently, with community members generously donating 48 handbags filled with essential items to be distributed by the district’s key family support agencies.

Westport’s Sue Thomson Casey Memorial Library and Reefton’s Inangahua County Library acted as collection points for the bags between 14 February and 8 March 2025.

Volunteers and library staff worked together to complete the sizeable task of sorting donations and filling the handbags with essential items such as toothbrushes, shampoo and deodorant; extras such as wipes, plasters and hand cream, along with some little luxuries.

The filled bags were tagged with Love Grace Appeal branding and have been passed on to Women's Refuges, Te Hā o Kawatiri and Homebuilders West Coast Trust to be distributed.

Many additional items were dropped off, which have also been given to organisations which support women who have suffered domestic abuse.

Manager Libraries Nicky Meadowcroft says: "The response from the community was incredible, with the total number of handbags more than doubling from last year. We hope that this amazing level of response continues in the coming years."

Grace Millane was tragically murdered while travelling in New Zealand in December 2018. The Love Grace Handbag Appeal is an annual, national call for donations that was set up by Grace’s family and friends as a legacy in her name, to help women who have been affected by domestic violence.

If you missed out on contributing this year, the appeal is an annual event - see facebook.com/lovegracenz for more details.

-ENDS-

For further information please contact:
Community Engagement Team
Buller District Council
Media.Enquiries@bdc.govt.nz

Disclaimer
The information in this media release was correct at time of publication. Changes in circumstances after the time of publication may impact on the accuracy of the information.