Today as part of Giving Tuesday we are featuring 2 people who have made an outstanding contribution to Nellie’s over the last year.
What is Giving Tuesday? “It is a new Canadian movement for giving and volunteering, taking place each year after Cyber Monday. The “Opening day of the giving season,” it is a day where charities, companies and individuals join together to share commitments, rally for favourite causes and think about others.”
Natasha McNulty (left) joined Team Nellie’s at the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon this year and was the top fundraiser on our team, raising over $2000! Natasha joined Nellie’s in honour of her Aunt (right), a survivor of violence. This is her story.
Who or what inspired you to give to Nellie’s?
I am the adult face of a child who endured a life of severe abuse and watched as my Aunt and cousin endured their own. My mother suffered from addiction and mental health issues as a result of a life of various sorts of abuse and unfortunately I was the object in which she took out her pain on. She has passed away a couple years ago and I had the opportunity to understand her fully and forgive her for what happened to me. She was alone. There was no place for her to go. And nobody tried to understand her.
My Aunt is a beautiful woman with a heart that is full of generosity and love and although you can see the pain she has endured due to decades of physical and mental abuse she remains stoic. I don’t really know how my cousin is. He is hard to reach. He’s quiet and doesn’t share much with many people.
I on the other hand struggled with addiction for over 20 years and am now over 2 years sober and turning 41 in December. A frightened child, an angry adult, and now I have to build a life on a new foundation with a clarity that I did not have before.
How long have you been a supporter of Nellie’s?
My best friend and I were walking in Leslieville last summer and had the opportunity to visit Nellie’s Open House. The beautiful pictures on the wall and the energy of love and compassion that the space holds are magnetic. It made me reflect back on my life, wishing I had known as a child where to go for safety, where my mom could go, my Aunt, my cousin. Where someone would embrace us and let us know that we would and could be OK in a world that seemed like everyday was a war zone.
I had received and email from Nellie’s this year that they were raising money in the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon and I decided that this is what I wanted to do for my Aunt. I wanted to show her how much I loved her as she has taken over as my mom and was there for me when my mom could not be. With all her adversity and chaos she never forgot about me. So I ran for her.
It was a beautiful morning on race day and I saw the sun and the moon meet in the middle of the sky together as if to wish each other a good day. Every moment I thought about how beautiful it is to be of service and to do something that is about kindness, compassion and love. This was not how I thought nor behaved as an alcoholic and drug addict. I raised a little over $2000 and although I didn’t think it was enough, I ran to honor my Aunt, and I ran to show all of you women and children out there who are still suffering, feeling alone and abandoned, neglected and scared that although I do not know you, I love you.
What is your hope for the women and children at Nellie’s?
My hope for Nellie’s is that this beautiful place will grow and flourish and continue to be a beacon of hope and place of peace for those who need what I wished for my Aunt, my cousin, my mother and myself. That you will be taken care of, regain your self-worth, learn to love yourself, because you are worthy, you have value, that fear will no longer bind you and you will grow into the women and children you were put here to become.
So I thank you Nellie’s for allowing me to feel the joy and gratitude for even just a moment to be a part of your organization. It turns out my best friend was equally touched by our short visit to Nellie’s and she now sits as one of the board of Directors. Our lives changed because we decided to meet for a coffee.
Join the conversation online by following the official @GivingTuesdayCA and @nelliesshelter twitter accounts and using hashtag #GivingTuesdayCA. To support the women and children at Nellie’s with a donation, please visit our Online Giving Page. All donations to our 2013 Holiday Appeal will be matched dollar for dollar up to $5000.
