Barbie box fundraiser planned for Sarnia-Lambton Women’s Interval Home

Sarnia’s Jan Moran is giving an assist to would-be Barbie cos-players while raising money to help people fleeing domestic violence.

The retired education worker says she’s passionate about helping women and children.

“Working 35 years in the education system, I’ve seen a lot,” said Moran.

So, after seeing the Barbie movie this summer, with its message about empowerment, she was inspired, she said.

A friend with a furniture refinishing business created the box, and plans are to bring it to Lambton Mall Nov. 25 for people to pose with and take a picture, in exchange for a donation to the Women’s Interval Home of Sarnia-Lambton, Moran said .

“We’re going to stay there all day and accept donations,” she said.

The roughly two-meter-tall box, painted and lit up in pink already has garnered some excitement online, she said, including rental requests and people planning to dress up for photos.

Having the box at the mall in November, domestic violence awareness month, also helps drive that awareness, said Josephine Ethier, fundraising and marketing coordinator with the women’s interval home.

“We’re excited about the concept,” she said.

The agency’s annual Walk a Mile fundraiser happens Nov. 18, and plans are to leave up posters in the mall about domestic violence for six weeks thereafter, Ethier said, noting domestic violence can be more prevalent during stressful times, like Christmas.

“We also want to bring more awareness in the community, not just the day of,” she said, noting aims are to raise $50,000 through Walk a Mile this year.

“I think just having the walk-a-mile posters there as well as the Barbie box, it puts an interactive aspect to it,” she said.

The Barbie movie breaks down the idea of ​​traditional gender roles, she said.

“It’s definitely empowering.”

Meanwhile, people are also invited to share their stories anonymously at womensintervalhome.com until Oct. 1 to contribute to an art piece, she said.

“The idea is, once we start talking about domestic violence and how common it is, then the idea of ​​the shame behind that will die because everyone will realize it affects almost everyone,” she said.

People also are asked to install purple light bulbs in November for the annual Shine a Light campaign, she said.

“Whether it’s their business light bulbs or their front-porch light bulbs. . . it’s just a simple way to say, ‘I’m here and I support the end of domestic violence,’” Ethier said.

Lambton County council earlier this month declared intimate partner violence an epidemic in Sarnia-Lambton.