Kitchen conversation leads to healing action

Compassionate. Dedicated. Energetic

Donna Jordan came up with the idea for the Hands Off Foundation during a kitchen table conversation about helping survivors of sexual assault to heal.

Under her leadership, the foundation has grown into a charity that provides tangible emergency support in the form of care packs with necessary items and shopping vouchers. It also provides survivors with opportunities that support their healing.

Donna coordinates fundraising and works with the Centre Against Sexual Assault to ensure each client receives what they feel will help them the most, not what has been selected for them.

“Beneficiaries include children, men and women of all ages and backgrounds,” says Donna.

Although the foundation has won previous awards, she feels the community has given her validation for her hard work by voting her a Westfield Local Hero.

“It says the community is behind us, and we need that to keep going.”

One of Donna’s goals is to expand the variety of opportunities the foundation offers. For example, it was recently able to sponsor a 14-year-old girl for part-time employment at a horse-riding school, instead of offering 10 horse-riding lessons.

“I am passionate about assisting survivors of sexual assault to overcome the horrific events that have occurred and to work towards decreasing the prevalence of sexual assault in the community,” says Donna.

Through the foundation, survivors know someone in the community cares for their wellbeing and is there for them during their recovery journey.

Apart from her work with the foundation, Donna has been a yoga teacher for 30 years and is also an active supporter of Oz Child and has fostered children from different backgrounds. “It is my belief that all children should feel loved and safe,” she says.

Westfield Local Heroes are nominated and voted for by their communities, with the three top finalists per Westfield centre each awarded a $10,000 grant for their affiliated organisation. The Hands Off Foundation will use its funds to provide more support to more survivors.

“We want to help people in more meaningful ways, like giving opportunities for people,” says Donna.

__For further information on the Westfield Local Heroes program, click here. __