Altrusa International of Oamaru member Sharon Walshe-Grieve with a collection of handbags to be donated to The Love Grace Handbag Appeal. PHOTO: SUPPLIEDAltrusa International of Oamaru is supporting The Love Grace Handbag Appeal in North Otago. The finished handbags will go to the Mid South Island Women’s Refuge and Family Safety Services in Timaru, she said. Donations would still be ‘‘gratefully received’’ beyond the March 8 date for Women’s Refuge, Ms Wood said. Just under 50,000 women and children were referred to Women’s Refuge each year and the refuge received 72 crisis calls a day nationwide.

Source: Otago Daily Times March 07, 2026 15:07 UTC