Christmas season is a time of joy, but also a time of high stress.
Harbour House in Bridgewater sees an increase of need for women and children over the holidays.
Executive Director Jennifer Gagnon says this is typically due to added emotional and financial stressors.
“It’s just a number of different things. Just high stress times that trigger things, not that they don’t happen at other times, too,” she says.
“Some cases women want to see other people in their family, and it will intensify because perhaps their partner won’t want them to.”
Gagnon says residents can help by donating gift cards.
She says they try to give gift cards over Christmas to help with groceries, toys for kids or even just helping a mom get her hair done.
Harbour house offers counselling to women and helps with transitions from the shelters to new homes.
