Books to feed the soul

For every $25 donated, The Monastery can purchase one inspirational book.
 

The effects of trauma, stress and anxiety can be overwhelming. Life gets too much and it seems like you have no place to go, nowhere to find peace; a feeling many people directly affected by the Christchurch earthquakes know all too well.

In April 2011, The Monastery, a wellness retreat in Hamilton which receives no public funding, was opened up free to people in Christchurch who urgently need some respite. Until April 2012, five-night retreats are being offered free of charge. Places are filling quickly as people from Christchurch, desperately needing a break, have travelled North to seek and receive support.  

The Monastery offers an absolute sanctuary; a place to rest and rejuvenate and engage in a flexible programme which offers counselling, workshops, therapeutic treatments and time for reflection. The feedback from the people who have stayed has been astounding; they describe it as life-saving, a chance to re-gather their strength and rebuild their lives.

One of the places people find the peace they need at The Monastery is in the library. Once a chapel, this beautiful room features ornate carvings and a fireplace that gives soothing warmth in winter. It's the perfect place to curl up with a book and escape the world for a while.

Except right now, The Monastery book cases are less than inspirational. They need to be filled with books of poetry, great novels, beautiful volumes of photos and childhood favourites, so the people who come looking for comfort, escape and seeking words of inspiration, can find them.

It seems like such a simple thing, but curling up with a good book is sometimes just what people need to get a break from the trauma they have been through.

The Monastery has a list of 150 books they need to fill their library bookshelves. For every $25 a Social Angel donates, one book can be purchased from the list. Please help us raise enough funds to purchase this much needed resource for people staying at The Monastery.

*The photo illustrating this cause is owned by The Monastery. It does not depict anyone associated directly with this story.