Students at Timaru Boys’ High School have come together to support women fleeing domestic violence.
The school’s students all donated to the Love Grace Handbag Appeal, which was named after Grace Millane, the British tourist murdered by her Tinder date in Auckland in 2018.
The nationwide appeal, which began in 2020, combined Grace’s love of handbags with a mission to help women escaping violence.
School administrator Michelle Bower suggested the school contribute to the appeal.
Ms Bower said her daughter had been the same age as Grace Millane.
‘‘And it freaked me out!’’
She said they had assigned different products for each year level so all of the necessities could be covered, from younger students being assigned to provide toothbrushes, all the way through to Year 13s donating sanitary pads, she said.
Ms Bower said some of the boys had been spotted at the supermarket buying their donations, including some struggling with which sanitary products to purchase.
Head boy Luke O’Connor said buying sanitary products had been ‘‘a wee bit awkward at the start’’.
But he said it was, ‘‘mind over matter’’.
‘‘I won’t be too worried about that any more.’’
Love Grace Handbag Appeal South Canterbury coordinator Lexi Andrews said, ‘‘these boys will be husbands and dads one day’’.
Miss Andrews said they had been overwhelmed by the generosity of the community.
She said donations of perfumes and handbags had arrived from around the region, but some essentials had been lacking.
That was where the school had been able to help, by providing the basics.
She said South Canterbury’s contribution to the appeal could not have had this kind of outcome without the school coming on board.
Year 9 student Ben Murray said his mum had put chocolate in his bundle of donations.
‘‘She explained it to me.
‘‘I don’t think it is very good what these husbands are doing to their wives.’’
Year 10 student Ted Simpson said the appeal ‘‘helps quite a bit’’.
He said when escapees were packing their things up in a hurry, essentials were not ‘‘the first things you think of ’’.
