DVINA will provide hygiene packs to locals impacted by domestic violence

The Domestic Violence Is Never Acceptable centre has been granted $4000 by the Murray Bridge council in order to purchase 100 packs of provisions for those in need.

The packs will provide clients and customers with essential hygiene products including body wipes, thermal socks and gloves, toothpaste and brushes, and shampoo and conditioner.

The founder and owner of DVINA Incorporated, Mel McInerney, said DVINA had always supplied clients with bags of clothing and hygiene products but wanted to give more.

“(There’s) such a high demand for basic hygiene products because of how expensive it is,” she said.

“They’re so costly and it’s one less thing that they have to be concerned about when they leave domestic violence and they have nothing.

“We don’t have a criteria to match, it doesn’t matter the situation, everybody is welcome to come in and grab what they need.”

Mel hoped local shops and chemists would help with the creation of packs through small donations.

DVINA Centre manager Bonita Swart said a lot of people who needed those products came in, and it was embarrassing to only provide a small quantity.

“When I was in the shelter and was bought a whole bag of (products), I just wanted to cry, it’s comforting,” she said.

The pair hoped to have as many pre-made packs as possible, allowing customers to walk in and have quick, easy access to the products.

Both women volunteer their time to the centre, with any extra profits going into additional donations for Foodbank.

“We feed 34 families a week through Foodbank and dress quite a few,” Ms McInerney said.

Men were also welcome to come in and grab a hygiene pack, they said.

“We are getting more men come through, which is fantastic,” Ms McInerney said.

“We get the chance to see (people experiencing homelessness or domestic violence) from the beginning of their journey to 12-18 months later when they have a house.”

• Get help: Visit the DVINA Centre at 1 Standen Street, Murray Bridge; call the Domestic Violence Crisis Line on 1800 737 732, or Murray Mallee Adelaide Hills Domestic Violence Service on 8228 8960; or, in an emergency, dial 000.
• More information: Visit DVINA Incorporated on Facebook.

Other community grant recipients

Also included among the recipients of grants worth a total of $69,290 this April were:

• Brinkley Hall: $4360 for air conditioning
• Callington A&H Society: $5000 for the 2024 Callington Show
• Callington Recreation Park: $1750 for a new timekeeper’s box
• Horse SA: $3000 for a shed at a planned bushfire refuge for horses
• Monarto Clay Target Club: $5000 for a new trap shooting layout
• Murray Bridge and District Historical Society: $3000 for blinds and a new computer
• Murray Bridge and District Table Tennis Association: $3740 for a new table, bats, balls and training robot for a mums and tots table tennis program
• Murray Bridge Community Centre: $3000 for kitchen utensils
• Murray Bridge Community Concert Band: $3000 for new instruments and venue hire
• Murray Bridge Darts Club: $3000 for an Anzac Grand Prix
• Murray Bridge Players and Singers: $5000 for an emergency exit, wet area and roller door
• Murray Lands Retirement Village: $3000 for lights which will illuminate the Australian flag at night
• Operation Flinders Foundation: $2240 for an eight-day trek in the Flinders Ranges for 10 Murray Bridge high school students
• Rambler Netball Club: $3000 to lay underground power lines
• Recfish SA: $3000 for a junior anglers and yabby net exchange event
• Rotary Club of Murray Bridge: $1200 for a Rotary golf event with a focus on mental health
• Silver Photography: $2500 for a project capturing photos of classic cars and their owners using vintage cameras
• Unity College: $2500 for a defibrillator
• Vicki’s Pride Dragonboat Association: $3000 for new paddles and life jackets, plus trailer upgrades
• Wellington Progress Association: $5000 for a new rain water tank at Wellington Hall, equipment hire for a planting project at Baker and Murrundi Reserves, and other activities

Some of the grants were awarded on the condition that applicants win development approval, acquit previous funding or meet other requirements.