Windsor Muslim women give baskets to Hiatus House moms

A groupof Muslim women in Windsor have a special gift to mark Mother's Day for those staying at Hiatus House this weekend.

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The group, which calls itself REACH, filled 25 baskets with an array of items includingscarves, a wallet, chocolate, a note pad and a gift card. The gift basket cost about $30 to put together and will be passed out the mothers at the social service agency.

Debra Fowler once stayed at the Hiatus House after being in an abusive situation. She now works as a residential counselor there and said the baskets will mean a lot to the mothers staying there becausemost women and children leave their home without any possessions.

"Most days that they're here are very, very difficult emotionally and to have that moment when that basket comes and it says 'I know you're struggling, but here take a moment for yourself. You deserve this. You're worth it. And hopefully you have the chance to feel good for a little while,'" Fowler said.

REACH members are looking for ways to help out the entire Windsor community. Samia Ali spoke for the group and said the gift basket project had been in the planning for a year.

Helping out women in need is a cause close to her heart, she added.

"We are all women and we should stand up for each other, whether it's here or somewhere else," Ali said.

Ali, who is friends with a counsellor at Hiatus House, said it's good to know the shelter is here to take care of women in need. She hopes to continue helping out in the future.

"We don't want to end it just here,"shesaid. "This should be an ongoing effort in coming years. As long as we are here, as long as we're around, we should be doing something for them."