Fall 2015 - Battered Women`s Shelter of Summit and Medina Counties

WELCOME HOME
A Quarterly Newsletter of The Battered Women’s Shelter
of Summit and Medina Counties
www.scmcbws.org
Brother & Sister,
together as friends,
ready to face whatever life sends…
Fall
2015
WWW.SCMCBWS.ORG
330-374-0740
INSIDE THIS
ISSUE:
Words from
our CEO
1
News from
the Shelter!
2
Thank You!
3
4 Ways You
Can Give!
45
Delightful
Donors!
6
Volunteer
Information
& Spotlight
7
Impact
Story
8
Almost everyone reading this newsletter has a multitude of things to be thankful for. It might be that
you are thankful for your career, friends, faith, a home, food, clothes and of high importance, your health. But,
as I was recently reminded, the most important thing that many of us have to be thankful for is our families.
You may have heard, my family suffered a horrific blow this past month with the untimely and sudden death of
my brother, Mickey.
Mickey was a tremendous supporter of this organization. From the day I accepted my position at the
Battered Women’s Shelter, twenty years ago, Mickey was “the wind beneath my wings”. He was there for me
(and all of us) during building fires, broken pipes, and when clients needed furniture hauled to their new
residences. Mick always said “yes” when I asked him for
help. He spent countless hours in the shelters making the
lives of the children better. There were cookouts in the
summer and snowball fights in the winter. Mickey would
purchase extra hamburgers and hotdogs during his weekly
trips to Sam’s Club and drop them off for the newest
families. He drove to Gino’s Pizza on Saturday nights when
there were teenagers in the shelters, and surprised them
with pizza around 11pm, after the little kids were
sleeping just to make the older kids feel a little special. He
fixed bikes and basketball hoops until his hands were sore
and tired. Mickey worked at his professional career each
day for about nine hours and then left to head home. On
his way, he would call my Mother to check on her needs
and then call me or the shelters directly to see if they
needed anything before he would call it a day.
I will always be thankful that I was able to see my
brother almost every day of my life. His spirit will live on in the walls of the shelter and in the smiles of many of
our long term employees. He never made a lot of money, did not have a huge house or a special edition car…
but he was rich in love and virtues. He was not perfect and certainly had human flaws, but his generosity and
respect for every human being was above reproach. One Christmas Eve we were out to dinner around 9pm. My
cell phone rang and I was informed that a new family had just arrived at the shelter. As I hung up the phone,
Mickey started questioning me about the family. Between 10pm—2am, Mickey went to several stores and then
to our general offices where he wrapped presents for this family, delivering them to the shelter so that the family would find gifts under the tree on Christmas morning. Needless to say, the Mother in that family was in total
shock over the delivery and the entire experience was a perfect reminder of the true meaning of Christmas.
To honor my brother’s beautiful spirit, the Battered Women’s Shelter has established a memorial
fund that will be used for the “extra needs of the children”. This fund will be for those items that allow children to be children. Popsicles, toys, birthday gifts, and sports tickets will all be purchased through this fund.
Mickey’s heart will live on through this memorial fund and hundreds will benefit for many years to come.
If you would like to make a contribution to this fund (large or small…all donations are welcomed and
will be cherished), please use the enclosed envelope or call Anna King, our staff accountant, at 330-777-4719 to
take your credit card information. Thank you for being a part of my life and thank you for helping to make life
better for the people residing in the shelter… one person at a time.
I encourage you to take a moment during this holiday season to remind your siblings that you are
thankful for them and for their unique qualities that they share with this world.
Sincerely,
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WHAT’S HAPPENING AT HOPE & HEALING
Representative Sykes
took time to visit
our agencies to discuss a proposed change in laws
concerning domestic violence. This update in law
would help more survivors from different
circumstances all over Ohio. The update would
change the definition of domestic partners, giving
aid to many people within an abusive relationship
who were not helped under previous laws.
We are so thankful for such an active and engaged
Ohio legislature!
Congratulations, Amber! The Rape Crisis Center (RCC) is pleased
to announce that advocate, Amber McClain, was awarded the prestigious
ATHENA Young Professionals Award for her work in Medina County!
Amber is a graduate from the University of Akron with her Bachelor's
Degree in social work. She has served as a direct service advocate for the
Rape Crisis Center since 2013. RCC is the sister agency of Battered Women’s
Shelter whose mission is to help victims of sexual assault (www.rccmsc.org).
The mission of ATHENA international is to support, develop, and
honor women leaders. The ATHENA Young Professionals Award Program
illuminated the exemplary leadership of ATHENA nominees and recipients in
our community. Congratulations and thank you for your commitment and
effort to aid survivors and prevent abuse in our community.
You go, Girl Scout!
These awesome Girl Scouts,
Alexis and Anna, took time to build a table and chair set and a
play chest for toys! These will be used in the Hope and Healing
reception area of our building so that kids coming to
appointments with their parent can be entertained! We have
many kids that come in who will appreciate this! Alexis and Anna are a part of Troop 90452. This project was for the Girl Scout
Silver Award! Thank you for taking time to better the lives of
families who have been through abuse by donating your very
thoughtful gift.
Do you want to go green?
We are switching to an e-newsletter format!
If you would like to receive our quarterly e-newsletter, please forward the email address
where you would like to receive the newsletter to [email protected].
We also have a monthly e-news! Tell us if you would like to receive monthly updates as well!
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THANK YOU!
This season we hosted a few very important fundraising events that will allow our agency to
continue helping our communities. Once again, these events were successful thanks to YOU!
Thank you for attending Dueling Pianos and Walk With Your Best Friend Against Abuse!
We look forward to seeing you next year!
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4 WAYS YOU CAN GIVE!
‘Tis the season of giving! Here are some ways you and your family
can help families who are survivors of domestic violence this holiday season!
Join our Thanksgiving Challenge!
Our tastiest holiday is right around the
corner! Soon we will be enjoying our family and friends around a table eating the very
best food of the season! However, no matter how good the food is, what really
matters is the people you are sharing it with and what you are thankful for. Most of us
have received blessings, food, love, and provisions in abundance. We are filled with
thanks for these wonderful gifts in our lives, but that is just what they are—gifts.
There are many in our communities who do not have the joy that we get to
experience through what we will be given this holiday season.
For the past two years, our CEO, Terri Heckman, challenged you to share your blessings and
this year she is challenging you, again. Soon you will receive a letter and envelope in the mail. We ask
that you pass the enclosed envelope around your table. As each guest holds it, have them state
something that they are truly thankful for, making their
thoughts and feelings known to those that have made a
difference in their lives. After everyone has shared, ask those
old and young to place a donation into the envelope as a sign of
your wonderful life and desire to help others find the joy, love,
and peace that you have been given. All donations collected will
be used during the holidays for those families spending this
precious season in one of our domestic violence shelters.
What are you doing Black Friday? Why not make a difference while you are out getting
hot deals? It is simple and easy!
Wayside Furniture offers Double Your Donation
to area non-profits
for all monetary donations dropped off in-store the day after Thanksgiving. All you have
to do is go to one of their stores, bring your monetary gift for the Battered Women’s
Shelter, give it to Wayside, and they will double your donation up to $200 to our agency!
This is great for us because any amount means so much. Maybe you’ve been wanting to
donate $100, but you can only budget $50? Here is your chance! Why not take what you collected from
the Thanksgiving Challenge to Wayside? Whatever you decide to give this Black Friday, November
27th, will be extended twice as much if you bring it to
Wayside. So, while you are already out shopping for
your family, friends, and yourself, take time to think of
the survivors in our shelters!
Local Wayside Furniture Store:
1367 Canton Rd, Akron, OH 44312
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Holiday Giving programs let your family adopt-a-shelter or adopt-a-family during
this holiday season and fill their holidays with joy!
ADOPT-A-SHELTER: Collect items with your family, office, church, etc! You can
collect items such as: General household supplies, consumable personal items and
paper products to be used by shelter residents now & throughout the year. These
items are necessities and should not be wrapped. If you select this program, we will
send a list of items you may select to buy. Gift cards are always helpful!
ADOPT-A-FAMILY: Families living in our shelters or who have recently left abuse and are living on their
own can be “adopted” during the holidays. Adopting groups are asked to provide all the holiday gifts for an
entire family. You may select a small family - a mother with up to 2 children or a large family - a mother
with 3 or more children. If you select this giving option, we will send you the first names & wish lists of your
family members as soon as possible.
If you, your organization, school, or company is looking to donate in other ways (i.e.: Giving tree, holiday
food, fundraiser, etc.), contact Kathy, donations coordinator, @ 330 860-5627 or [email protected]
to discuss ideas. We will be more than happy to accommodate any way you are willing to give.
Happy holidays!
Did you know
ACME will give
non-profit
agencies 5% of
the total
amount of
money spent on
selected
products?
It’s called
ACME
Community Cash Back
Program! Help us spread the
word! Start a collection basket for
receipts at your office, church, or
and home today!
For more information, contact
Kathy at [email protected] or
330-860-5627. Promotion ends
January 6th, 2016.
www.acmestores.com/community-cash-back/
Page 5
Delightful Donors!
During this year’s Nurses Week, nurses at Akron General
Medical Center decided to give back. Each year during
Nurses Week, an extraordinary effort takes place with the
Nurses Week Basket Raffle drawing. This basket raffle exists to
address the healthcare needs of our community. This year the
Surgical Services department, won the Nurses Week contest
by raising $7,766.66 for the Battered Women’s Shelter. Thank
you, AGMC nurses, for your services and for going the extra
mile to help our community!
Bridgestone America’s Trust Fund awarded the amount of $2,500
to Battered Women’s Shelter for general operating support.
Bridgestone Americas Trust Fund is known for supporting community
members. Thank you, Bridgestone! The Battered Women’s Shelter
will put these funds towards helping survivors of domestic violence.
This year, Molon Labe CrossFit raised over $10,000 for our
agency! Thank you for raising funds for our efforts to
support survivors, as well as community awareness of
domestic
violence and
the effects of
abuse on
families.
Many
families will
find peace
through your
generosity.
Battered Women's Shelter is proud to receive a $20,000
grant from The Mary Kay Foundation! The Battered
Women’s Shelter will use the grant funding to provide
critical support for its operating expenses such as
utilities, maintenance, and supplies. Therefore, ensuring
that the emergency shelter remains open, warm, clean,
and functional and that our crisis hotline services are
accessible to
domestic
violence survivors
24 hours a day/7
days a week.
Page 6
Thank you to all who joined us for Painting
with a Purpose this September. With a
donation, participants received all the
supplies needed to paint one painting for
themselves and one for a future shelter client
to take with her as she transitions out of the
shelter’s services.
All proceeds from the evening went to the
renovation of rooms in the new Hope and
Healing Survivor Resource Center.
Thank you to all
brought out their
creativity for this
fun event!
Volunteer Spotlight!
Tony Belsito has been with our agency since February of 2015.
Even though it has not even been a year since he has been
volunteering with us, he has made a HUGE impact! In his time with
our agencies, Tony has cast himself into many different roles
totaling over 260 hours in service. From answering the Rape Crisis
Center hotline to assisting with outreach events, we are grateful for
his giving spirit.
According to our Outreach and Education Manager, “Tony is
our go to guy! I know that if I have an unexpected need or shift to fill I
can call on him. Not only will he step up, but he has a wonderful
attitude.”
Battered Women’s Shelter is so appreciative of the great men,
like Tony, in our community who volunteer their time and talent to
providing support, education and empowerment to survivors of
sexual and domestic violence. This is one of the many reasons why
we chose to highlight Tony in this edition of our newsletter.
Volunteers keep the Battered Women’s Shelter going. Without our wonderful volunteers, we
would not be able to help as many survivors as we do. We are thankful for Tony’s dedicated service!
Here are some ways you can volunteer at BWS!
1.
Our shelters are in need of volunteers! Volunteers in the shelters may do things such
as working with survivors and their children using crisis intervention skills, supervise children while
mothers attend support group, house meetings, and many other needs!
2.
Hotline volunteers needed! Take shifts to answer the domestic violence crisis hotline and
help provide support to callers as they look for safety and security.
3.
Administrative volunteers! can do clerical work such as sending out thank you letters to
donors, photocopying, making brochures, answering phones, filing, data entry, as well as picking up
and delivering donations (as needed).
4.
Volunteer as a photographer or a videographer! The Battered Women’s Shelter
offers portraits to families in shelters or beauty shots on beauty days. We are also always in need of
new website stock photos.
5.
Volunteer to clean and organize! With our pending renovation we are looking for groups
and individuals who would want to assist with packing and storing needs.
Whatever your skill set is, or your interests are, we have opportunities for you!
For inquiries on volunteer opportunities, email [email protected] or call 330-374-0740.
Check out more opportunities on our website www.scmcbws.org.
Page 7
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This story comes from a thank you letter the Battered Women’s
Shelter received after last year’s holiday giving program. A local
family decided to “adopt” a family who has gone through abuse
for the holidays. The family in need was given gifts for the
children to open on Christmas so that the survivor parent would
not have to worry about their children being unable to enjoy the
holiday season. Here is this survivor’s response:
“Dear Family,
Thank you so much for your generous gifts this
Christmas season! I cannot fully explain how much
this means to me and my kids. They are vibrant and
full of energy. Nothing was better than seeing their
excited faces on Christmas morning. You have given
us that gift - along with so much more! I wish there was a way for us to repay you
or at the very least, explain how much your generosity brought to us. I can tell
you that you have made two wonderful kids extremely happy. You have filled
our house with the sounds of laughter and play that turned four walls and a
roof from a house into a home. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!”
By adopting a family for the holidays, you are giving the family hope after a troubling time in
their lives —the ability to enjoy the holiday season with gifts!
Learn more about our Holiday Giving on page 5!
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