VIEW 2009 Newsletter - Shelter from the Storm

How our dollars are spent
shelter from the storm, inc.
73-555 alessandro dr.
palm desert, ca 92260
non-profit org
u.s. postage paid
AFFORDABLE
PRINT AND MAIL
24-Hour
Crisis Lines
TOLL FREE
(800) 775-6055
Emergency Shelter
Transitional Housing
Counseling Center
(SAFE)
(760) 328-7233
Outreach Offices
Fundraising
Administration
Locations & Services:
All Services are available in English and Spanish.
EMERGENCY SHELTER
Confidential Location
TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAM
Confidential Location
COMMUNITY COUNSELING CLINIC
AND ADMINISTRATION OFFICES
73-555 Alessandro Dr.
Palm Desert, CA 92260
(760) 674-0400
OUTREACH CENTERS
555 South Sunrise
Palm Springs, CA 92262
(760) 318-0140
82-675 Highway 111, Room 117
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 770-2390
73-555 Alessandro Dr.,
Palm Desert, CA 92260
(760) 674-0400
Dear Friend,
It is my pleasure to introduce you to
the newly formed organization to bene
fit Shelter
From The Storm. The Sheltering Siste
rs Auxiliary’s mission is to educate as
well as to raise
funds. In just eight months, this migh
ty group of talented women has acco
mplished much!
The Sheltering Sisters have attracted
dedicated, talented women, to serve in
the agency.
Founding members are Karen Moller,
Vice President; Connie Golds, Secretary
; Susie
Harvey, Treasurer; and Executive Com
mittee members Bobbi Downey, Mela
nie Hinrichs,
Marhelith Lopez, Judy Mathes, Katie
Slimko, Kate Spates, Janette Temple,
and Lynn
Moriarty, the Executive Director of Shel
ter From The Storm.
Our first endeavor was to raise funds
to produce a DVD to tell the compelli
ng story of
women, who with the loving help and
guidance of the agency’s staff, have
crea
ted safe and
healthy lives for themselves and their
children. I am proud to announce that
our efforts
allowed us to complete a five-minute
DVD Presentation to be used throughou
t the Valley.
Our second endeavor was more daun
ting! On October 29th at the Mira Mon
te Resort
Hotel, we hosted the 9th Annual Hats
Off Luncheon with over 230 attendees
.
This event
was a smashing success. Our wonderfu
l Sheltering Sisters created a warm and
welcoming
atmosphere that made the luncheon a
memorable afternoon, made even more
so by some of
the most incredibly extravagant hats
ever!
The luncheon also marked the debut
of our powerful DVD that, through the
voices of
survivors, demonstrated the need to cont
inue Shelter From The Storm’s work
despite its
having sustained draconian budget cuts.
Additionally, the Hats Off Luncheon
provided us with our first opportunity
to invite the
public to join the Sheltering Sisters Aux
iliary. We gratefully welcome more than
25 new
Sisters to the fold. We acknowledge
you and thank you for your generosit
y. We all look
forward to working together in the year
s to come!
We are currently forming a speakers
Bureau headed by Connie Golds that
will reach out
to groups and individuals Valleywide
by requesting the opportunity to pres
ent
our DVD
and speak about the vital work of Shel
ter From The Storm.
We will keep you informed of forthcom
ing events and
we extend to you an invitation to join
our Sheltering Sisters
Auxiliary. For additional information,
please call 760-674-0400
or visit our website at shelterfromthe
storm.com.
Warm regards,
Maggie Montez
Sheltering Sisters Auxillary Presiden
t
Winter 2009
SFTS
News
www.shelterfromthestorm.com
$250,000 GRANT TO MAKE UP DRASTIC
SHORTFALL AT SHELTER FROM THE STORM
Desert Healthcare District to
Help Assist More Than 500 Local
Victims of Domestic Abuse
generosity and spirit of giving that will
help so many local women and children in
need. This generous contribution supports
the outstanding work being done at Shelter
from the Storm and helps ensure that
A $250,000 grant from Desert Healthwomen and young people facing violence
care District will help Shelter From
in their own homes have a place to go and
The Storm remain open after Governor
caring individuals to turn to. I commend
Schwarzenegger used the line-item veto
Desert Healthcare District for playing
(July 2009) to eliminate 100% of State
such an important role in giving back to
funding for domestic violence emergenour community and helping to bring hope
cies. The funding cut translated into a
and healing to people facing devastating
loss of $250,000 in core operating funds
circumstances.” for the local agency, which is dedicated
The grant funds will sustain core staff
to assisting women and children who are
and operations in order to keep the Emervictims of domestic violence. With private
gency Shelter and its services open. It will
donations stagnant and fundraisers netting
also ensure that victims who are monosignificantly less income, the grant will
lingual in Spanish will receive critical
help keep the agency’s doors open to serve
psychotherapeutic services from a bilinmore than 500 District residents at the
gual clinician and psychiatrist. All of the
Emergency Shelter.
victims served by Shelter From The Storm
“It’s practically unthinkable that the
live at or below the poverty level, and the
Governor and State lawmakers would
shelter is often the provider of ‘last resort’
cut domestic abuse funding so drastiresponding to the poorest of the poor –
cally, especially with the demand for our
marginalized women and children who
services up nearly one
have been underserved
third from last year,”
“We do not think that
by the heath care,
said Lynn Moriarty,
and social
Shelter From The Storm education,
Executive Director
service systems.
of Shelter From The
is an optional service”
“We do not think
Storm. “Luckily,
that Shelter From The
Desert Healthcare District realized the
Storm is an optional service,” said Glen
massive impact this loss of funding would
Grayman, MD, Board President for Desert
cause for our agency, and stepped in to
Healthcare District. “We have to maintain
help us sustain these critical services.
a safe place where women and children
Sadly, domestic violence affects thousands
who are victims of domestic violence can
of women and children right here in the
go to begin building a better life. Times
Coachella Valley each year, and now
may be tough economically, but this orgathanks to the District, our doors will stay
nization is not one we can afford to lose.”
open to help them get back on their feet.”
Shelter From The Storm was founded
From Washington D.C., Congressin 1988 in response to the critical needs
woman Mary Bono-Mack said of the
of domestic violence victims in the
contribution: “Today I join our entire
Coachella Valley. Since then, the organicommunity in offering my heartfelt thanks
zation has expanded to operate a 72-bed
to Desert Healthcare District for their
emergency shelter for approximately
SFTS
SERVICES
Emergency Shelter
Community
Counseling Center
Individual & Group
Counseling for Women
and Children
400 women and children annually. Shelter From the Storm is among the largest
domestic violence shelters in California
and is the only domestic violence victim
assistance organization located within
Desert Healthcare District’s boundaries.
The mission of the organization is to
provide support, prevent violence, and
promote justice for victims of crime and
abuse, their families and communities.
Accomplishments of Shelter From The
Storm include the operation of an onsite
preschool program and adjacent K-12
Schoolhouse, making it possible for children to reside at the Emergency Shelter
without missing school and falling behind
academically. An onsite medical clinic,
staffed by volunteer doctors and nurses,
was recently opened at the Emergency
Shelter. Other programs include a 24-hour
Crisis Line, a Community Counseling
Center, Outreach Centers, Teen Dating
Violence Prevention Program and Transitional Housing for domestic violence
survivors preparing for independent living
in the community.
Desert Healthcare District is a government agency, established by the state of
California in 1948, to improve and support
community health programs within a 457square mile service area in the Coachella
Valley. The District also owns and oversees the lease of Desert Regional Medical
Center in Palm Springs.
Advocacy
Community Education
Substance Abuse
Counseling
3 Outreach
Drop-in Centers
Parenting Groups
Case Management
Transitional Housing
Teen Dating
Violence Prevention
Professional
Consultation
24-Hour Crisis Line
Speakers Bureau
President’s Message
Kevin McGuire, President
It is hard to believe that for many years, even in a community as caring as the Coachella Valley, violence against women and children
was the dirty little secret that no one wanted to talk about. Finally, in 1988, recognizing how desperate the need, a group of women and
men came together determined to find a way to help. In 1993 they opened what is still the Coachella Valley’s only emergency shelter for
victims of domestic violence. From that day to this our Shelter has never closed its doors and has surely saved many lives.
Yet, as important as shelters are, they are not the answer for everyone. Recognizing this and acutely aware of many unmet needs, we
made a commitment to create a continuum of services that would offer domestic violence victims the best possible chance to create safe
and healthy lives.
Today we have over 200 beds and 6 distinct program locations throughout the desert. Agency-wide we serve over 2000 women and
children each year. All of our services are offered in Spanish as well as in English. Our Emergency Shelter provides 60 days of refuge and
a wide range of services including individual and group counseling, case management, and legal services for women and children who
are often fleeing for their lives. To keep the children safe, on-site schooling is provided at the Shelter in either our pre-school or our K-12 school, that opened in
2002.
In 2000, we opened the valley’s only long-term transitional housing program for women and children. At our Transitional Living Center, families may stay
for up to two years. While there, they join the workforce and receive clinical, legal, and case management services specifically designed to help them achieve
emotional and financial stability. Also in 2000, we opened the doors to our Community Counseling Center. The Center offers adult and child victims of abuse
who are not in need of shelter services similar to those offered in our Shelter.
Our Outreach Crisis Intervention offices are located in Palm Springs and Indio and act as a gateway to all of our services. Each office is staffed with Spanishand English-speaking advocates. Shelter From The Storm has come a long way since 1988. But we know that there is more to be done. Just keeping up with the
demands for services remains a daily challenge. And our work to end the plague of domestic violence will not be done so long as one family lives in fear. All
of us at Shelter From The Storm are grateful for the ongoing support that allows us to continue to provide our life changing services. We want you to know that
because you care we are able to continue to save and rebuild lives…one family at a time.
Executive Director’s Message
Lynn Moriarty, Executive Director
Would you put a couple of dollars in an envelope and send it to Shelter From The Storm if you thought you might be buying life for an
abused woman or child? Chances are you would. So please do it and you will help to keep open the doors of the Valley’s only emergency
shelter for victims of domestic violence.
Few things in life are “all or nothing” propositions; but for emergency shelters there is no middle ground. Either we remain a refuge or
we fail in our mission. This is not a crisis waiting to happen…it is happening… right here and now.
We cannot cut back on hours of operation or furlough staff on Fridays or walk out at five o’clock and lock the doors. A 24-hour crisis
center must operate 24 hours. A victim’s cry for help must be answered at the moment of need. Emergency services must operate every
hour of every day year-round if innocent lives are to be spared. When victims are unable to access critical life saving services, people
die. Period. Yet the fact remains that government funding for domestic violence shelters has been drastically cut at the same time that
the demand for services is on the rise. In our case, over the last year we have lost nine staff positions. Should we be forced to further cut services, the entire
community will pay in additional costs to public safety, law enforcement, hospital emergency rooms, courts, and other public entities – not to mention the cost
of terrible human suffering.
If we are unable to continue to provide all of our life-saving services, thousands of fragile, at risk families living in our service area, stretching from the
Mexican border through Banning and beyond will be endangered. That’s 140 square miles! Shelter From The Storm saves lives by providing safety, medical care, food, clothing, counseling, schooling, information, and resources to women and
children from every walk of life as they struggle to build safe and healthy lives that are free of fear and violence.
To make sure that victims of violent homes continue to have a place to turn for help, we are asking you to donate whatever you can and to do it now. No
amount, however small, is insignificant.
Please know how much we appreciate your ongoing support over the past 20-plus years and how much we continue to count on you in this time of
unprecedented financial crisis. The lives of thousands of our community’s abused women and children depend on us – and on you. Thank you!
The Sheltering Sisters Auxilliary Annual Hats Off Luncheon was a rousing success...
Christmas
‘WISH’ LIST
Women
Clothing
Makeup
Perfumes/Colognes
Jewelry
Clocks
Pajamas/Robes/Slippers
Radios
Watches
Hair Accessories
Blow Dryers
Curling Irons
Hot Rollers
Bath/Body Toiletries
Gloves
Purses
Wallets
Day Planners
Gift Certificates
Hosiery
Facial Products
Shoes
Telephones
Unwrapped
Gifts Please
Teen
iPods
Makeup
CD’s
Curling irons
Wrist watches
Gift Certificates for Clothes & Music
PG Rated Videos
Hand Held Video Games
Mini Karaoke Machines
Rollerblades
Books
Wall Calendars
Writing Journals
Clothing
Shoes
Jackets
Toiletries for Both Sexes
Perfumes/Colognes Backpacks
Hair Accessories
Radio/Alarm Clocks
Movie Gift Certificates
Pajamas/Robes/Slippers
Blow Dryers
Skateboards
USB Computer Drive
Gifts will be wrapped
by shelter volunteers.
Please be sure that
all toys are of a
non-violent nature.
Thank You
Juan DeLara
Director
Stan Henry
Director
Rod Pacheco
Director
Mary T. Roche
Director
Patty Delgado Service
Director
Robert A. Spiegel
Director
Last date to
drop off gifts
12/17/09
Children
Bratz Dolls
Hanna Montana
Board Games
Cards (card games)
Checkers
Batman Products
Blues Clues
Books
Spongebob Products
Skateboards
Toy Story Products
Sesame Street Products
Rollerskates/Blades
Art Supplies
Toy Cars, Trucks, Trains
Dora The Explorer
Shoes
High School Musical
Dolls/Dollhouses
Sports Equipment
Playdough
Hot Wheels Products
Puzzles
Transformers
Easybake Oven
Lego’s/Lincoln Logs
Washable Paints
Crayons
Doll Strollers
Musical Instruments
Twister Games
Dinosaur Products
iCarly Products
Clothing
Each year, Shelter From The Storm hosts
a holiday party for women and children who
are currently in our residential programs and
for those who have been in our Emergency
Shelter in the past.
At the party, mothers visit our “toy
store” and select (at no cost) gifts for their
children. Each child visits our “boutique”
and selects (also at no cost) a gift for the
mother. Volunteers are on hand to help the
children shop and wrap with refreshments
and decorations provided by Shari Kelley.
Talented Franz Jevne plays guitar and singalong, plus a “visit” from Santa make the
event a joyful time for everyone.
This is a wonderful opportunity for you to
brighten the holiday season for families who
have survived some of the worst that life
has to offer. Many of these families struggle
to make ends meet and have little money
to spend to celebrate the holidays. In years
past, mothers have told us that their children
would not have had much of a holiday if it
were not for the gifts made available to them
at the party.
We appreciate donations of new gifts for
women, and new non-violent toys and games
for children of all ages. We especially need
gifts for teenagers.
Thank you for your generosity.
Drop-Off Locations
for Holiday Party
All gifts must be received by 12/17/09
SFTS, inc.
Board of
Directors
Kevin McGuire
President
Irwin Golds
President-Elect
Sandy Wessman
Director
Steven Bloomquist
Vice-President
Edra Blixseth
Director
Robert J. Baltes, CPA, CVA
Treasurer
Helen Reinsch
Director Emerita
Mary Heckmann, PhD.
Secretary
Charitable
Contributions
SFTS Holiday Party
Robert J. Bates, CPA, CVA, SFTS Treasurer
Favorable Charitable Contribution Deduction Limits Announced.
All contributions to any charitable organization can now receive a special benefit. The
benefit amounts to an increase in the otherwise allowable amount. Whereas the former limit
was 50 percent of Adjusted Gross Income (AGI), the increased will be 100 percent of AGI.
Example: If your AGI is $100,000 and you make charitable contributions amounting to
$75,000, you may deduct the entire amount and not be limited to a $50,000 deduction as in
the past. (Any unused amounts had to be carried over to future years.) In fact, you could make
contributions of up to $100,000 in this example and take the deduction currently. If you are
considering taking advantage of this change, please consult your tax advisor.
Palm Desert National Bank
333 North Palm Canyon, Ste. 102, Palm Springs
73-745 El Paseo, Palm Desert
47-000 Washington Street, La Quinta
Palm Desert City Hall
73-510 Fred Waring Dr., Palm Desert
Cathedral City Police Department
68-700 Avenue Lalo Guerrero, Cathedral City
Indio Sheriff’s Department
82-695 Drive Carreon Blvd, Indio
La Quinta City Hall
78-495 Calle Tampico, La Quinta
Palm Springs City Hall
3200 East Tahquitz, Palm Springs
THE MISSION OF SHELTER FROM THE STORM IS TO PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES TO VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROFESSIONALLY, ETHICALLY AND COMPASSIONATELY.
President’s Message
Kevin McGuire, President
It is hard to believe that for many years, even in a community as caring as the Coachella Valley, violence against women and children
was the dirty little secret that no one wanted to talk about. Finally, in 1988, recognizing how desperate the need, a group of women and
men came together determined to find a way to help. In 1993 they opened what is still the Coachella Valley’s only emergency shelter for
victims of domestic violence. From that day to this our Shelter has never closed its doors and has surely saved many lives.
Yet, as important as shelters are, they are not the answer for everyone. Recognizing this and acutely aware of many unmet needs, we
made a commitment to create a continuum of services that would offer domestic violence victims the best possible chance to create safe
and healthy lives.
Today we have over 200 beds and 6 distinct program locations throughout the desert. Agency-wide we serve over 2000 women and
children each year. All of our services are offered in Spanish as well as in English. Our Emergency Shelter provides 60 days of refuge and
a wide range of services including individual and group counseling, case management, and legal services for women and children who
are often fleeing for their lives. To keep the children safe, on-site schooling is provided at the Shelter in either our pre-school or our K-12 school, that opened in
2002.
In 2000, we opened the valley’s only long-term transitional housing program for women and children. At our Transitional Living Center, families may stay
for up to two years. While there, they join the workforce and receive clinical, legal, and case management services specifically designed to help them achieve
emotional and financial stability. Also in 2000, we opened the doors to our Community Counseling Center. The Center offers adult and child victims of abuse
who are not in need of shelter services similar to those offered in our Shelter.
Our Outreach Crisis Intervention offices are located in Palm Springs and Indio and act as a gateway to all of our services. Each office is staffed with Spanishand English-speaking advocates. Shelter From The Storm has come a long way since 1988. But we know that there is more to be done. Just keeping up with the
demands for services remains a daily challenge. And our work to end the plague of domestic violence will not be done so long as one family lives in fear. All
of us at Shelter From The Storm are grateful for the ongoing support that allows us to continue to provide our life changing services. We want you to know that
because you care we are able to continue to save and rebuild lives…one family at a time.
Executive Director’s Message
Lynn Moriarty, Executive Director
Would you put a couple of dollars in an envelope and send it to Shelter From The Storm if you thought you might be buying life for an
abused woman or child? Chances are you would. So please do it and you will help to keep open the doors of the Valley’s only emergency
shelter for victims of domestic violence.
Few things in life are “all or nothing” propositions; but for emergency shelters there is no middle ground. Either we remain a refuge or
we fail in our mission. This is not a crisis waiting to happen…it is happening… right here and now.
We cannot cut back on hours of operation or furlough staff on Fridays or walk out at five o’clock and lock the doors. A 24-hour crisis
center must operate 24 hours. A victim’s cry for help must be answered at the moment of need. Emergency services must operate every
hour of every day year-round if innocent lives are to be spared. When victims are unable to access critical life saving services, people
die. Period. Yet the fact remains that government funding for domestic violence shelters has been drastically cut at the same time that
the demand for services is on the rise. In our case, over the last year we have lost nine staff positions. Should we be forced to further cut services, the entire
community will pay in additional costs to public safety, law enforcement, hospital emergency rooms, courts, and other public entities – not to mention the cost
of terrible human suffering.
If we are unable to continue to provide all of our life-saving services, thousands of fragile, at risk families living in our service area, stretching from the
Mexican border through Banning and beyond will be endangered. That’s 140 square miles! Shelter From The Storm saves lives by providing safety, medical care, food, clothing, counseling, schooling, information, and resources to women and
children from every walk of life as they struggle to build safe and healthy lives that are free of fear and violence.
To make sure that victims of violent homes continue to have a place to turn for help, we are asking you to donate whatever you can and to do it now. No
amount, however small, is insignificant.
Please know how much we appreciate your ongoing support over the past 20-plus years and how much we continue to count on you in this time of
unprecedented financial crisis. The lives of thousands of our community’s abused women and children depend on us – and on you. Thank you!
The Sheltering Sisters Auxilliary Annual Hats Off Luncheon was a rousing success...
Christmas
‘WISH’ LIST
Women
Clothing
Makeup
Perfumes/Colognes
Jewelry
Clocks
Pajamas/Robes/Slippers
Radios
Watches
Hair Accessories
Blow Dryers
Curling Irons
Hot Rollers
Bath/Body Toiletries
Gloves
Purses
Wallets
Day Planners
Gift Certificates
Hosiery
Facial Products
Shoes
Telephones
Unwrapped
Gifts Please
Teen
iPods
Makeup
CD’s
Curling irons
Wrist watches
Gift Certificates for Clothes & Music
PG Rated Videos
Hand Held Video Games
Mini Karaoke Machines
Rollerblades
Books
Wall Calendars
Writing Journals
Clothing
Shoes
Jackets
Toiletries for Both Sexes
Perfumes/Colognes Backpacks
Hair Accessories
Radio/Alarm Clocks
Movie Gift Certificates
Pajamas/Robes/Slippers
Blow Dryers
Skateboards
USB Computer Drive
Gifts will be wrapped
by shelter volunteers.
Please be sure that
all toys are of a
non-violent nature.
Thank You
Juan DeLara
Director
Stan Henry
Director
Rod Pacheco
Director
Mary T. Roche
Director
Patty Delgado Service
Director
Robert A. Spiegel
Director
Last date to
drop off gifts
12/17/09
Children
Bratz Dolls
Hanna Montana
Board Games
Cards (card games)
Checkers
Batman Products
Blues Clues
Books
Spongebob Products
Skateboards
Toy Story Products
Sesame Street Products
Rollerskates/Blades
Art Supplies
Toy Cars, Trucks, Trains
Dora The Explorer
Shoes
High School Musical
Dolls/Dollhouses
Sports Equipment
Playdough
Hot Wheels Products
Puzzles
Transformers
Easybake Oven
Lego’s/Lincoln Logs
Washable Paints
Crayons
Doll Strollers
Musical Instruments
Twister Games
Dinosaur Products
iCarly Products
Clothing
Each year, Shelter From The Storm hosts
a holiday party for women and children who
are currently in our residential programs and
for those who have been in our Emergency
Shelter in the past.
At the party, mothers visit our “toy
store” and select (at no cost) gifts for their
children. Each child visits our “boutique”
and selects (also at no cost) a gift for the
mother. Volunteers are on hand to help the
children shop and wrap with refreshments
and decorations provided by Shari Kelley.
Talented Franz Jevne plays guitar and singalong, plus a “visit” from Santa make the
event a joyful time for everyone.
This is a wonderful opportunity for you to
brighten the holiday season for families who
have survived some of the worst that life
has to offer. Many of these families struggle
to make ends meet and have little money
to spend to celebrate the holidays. In years
past, mothers have told us that their children
would not have had much of a holiday if it
were not for the gifts made available to them
at the party.
We appreciate donations of new gifts for
women, and new non-violent toys and games
for children of all ages. We especially need
gifts for teenagers.
Thank you for your generosity.
Drop-Off Locations
for Holiday Party
All gifts must be received by 12/17/09
SFTS, inc.
Board of
Directors
Kevin McGuire
President
Irwin Golds
President-Elect
Sandy Wessman
Director
Steven Bloomquist
Vice-President
Edra Blixseth
Director
Robert J. Baltes, CPA, CVA
Treasurer
Helen Reinsch
Director Emerita
Mary Heckmann, PhD.
Secretary
Charitable
Contributions
SFTS Holiday Party
Robert J. Bates, CPA, CVA, SFTS Treasurer
Favorable Charitable Contribution Deduction Limits Announced.
All contributions to any charitable organization can now receive a special benefit. The
benefit amounts to an increase in the otherwise allowable amount. Whereas the former limit
was 50 percent of Adjusted Gross Income (AGI), the increased will be 100 percent of AGI.
Example: If your AGI is $100,000 and you make charitable contributions amounting to
$75,000, you may deduct the entire amount and not be limited to a $50,000 deduction as in
the past. (Any unused amounts had to be carried over to future years.) In fact, you could make
contributions of up to $100,000 in this example and take the deduction currently. If you are
considering taking advantage of this change, please consult your tax advisor.
Palm Desert National Bank
333 North Palm Canyon, Ste. 102, Palm Springs
73-745 El Paseo, Palm Desert
47-000 Washington Street, La Quinta
Palm Desert City Hall
73-510 Fred Waring Dr., Palm Desert
Cathedral City Police Department
68-700 Avenue Lalo Guerrero, Cathedral City
Indio Sheriff’s Department
82-695 Drive Carreon Blvd, Indio
La Quinta City Hall
78-495 Calle Tampico, La Quinta
Palm Springs City Hall
3200 East Tahquitz, Palm Springs
THE MISSION OF SHELTER FROM THE STORM IS TO PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES TO VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROFESSIONALLY, ETHICALLY AND COMPASSIONATELY.
How our dollars are spent
shelter from the storm, inc.
73-555 alessandro dr.
palm desert, ca 92260
non-profit org
u.s. postage paid
AFFORDABLE
PRINT AND MAIL
24-Hour
Crisis Lines
TOLL FREE
(800) 775-6055
Emergency Shelter
Transitional Housing
Counseling Center
(SAFE)
(760) 328-7233
Outreach Offices
Fundraising
Administration
Locations & Services:
All Services are available in English and Spanish.
EMERGENCY SHELTER
Confidential Location
TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAM
Confidential Location
COMMUNITY COUNSELING CLINIC
AND ADMINISTRATION OFFICES
73-555 Alessandro Dr.
Palm Desert, CA 92260
(760) 674-0400
OUTREACH CENTERS
555 South Sunrise
Palm Springs, CA 92262
(760) 318-0140
82-675 Highway 111, Room 117
Indio, CA 92201
(760) 770-2390
73-555 Alessandro Dr.,
Palm Desert, CA 92260
(760) 674-0400
Dear Friend,
It is my pleasure to introduce you to
the newly formed organization to bene
fit Shelter
From The Storm. The Sheltering Siste
rs Auxiliary’s mission is to educate as
well as to raise
funds. In just eight months, this migh
ty group of talented women has acco
mplished much!
The Sheltering Sisters have attracted
dedicated, talented women, to serve in
the agency.
Founding members are Karen Moller,
Vice President; Connie Golds, Secretary
; Susie
Harvey, Treasurer; and Executive Com
mittee members Bobbi Downey, Mela
nie Hinrichs,
Marhelith Lopez, Judy Mathes, Katie
Slimko, Kate Spates, Janette Temple,
and Lynn
Moriarty, the Executive Director of Shel
ter From The Storm.
Our first endeavor was to raise funds
to produce a DVD to tell the compelli
ng story of
women, who with the loving help and
guidance of the agency’s staff, have
crea
ted safe and
healthy lives for themselves and their
children. I am proud to announce that
our efforts
allowed us to complete a five-minute
DVD Presentation to be used throughou
t the Valley.
Our second endeavor was more daun
ting! On October 29th at the Mira Mon
te Resort
Hotel, we hosted the 9th Annual Hats
Off Luncheon with over 230 attendees
.
This event
was a smashing success. Our wonderfu
l Sheltering Sisters created a warm and
welcoming
atmosphere that made the luncheon a
memorable afternoon, made even more
so by some of
the most incredibly extravagant hats
ever!
The luncheon also marked the debut
of our powerful DVD that, through the
voices of
survivors, demonstrated the need to cont
inue Shelter From The Storm’s work
despite its
having sustained draconian budget cuts.
Additionally, the Hats Off Luncheon
provided us with our first opportunity
to invite the
public to join the Sheltering Sisters Aux
iliary. We gratefully welcome more than
25 new
Sisters to the fold. We acknowledge
you and thank you for your generosit
y. We all look
forward to working together in the year
s to come!
We are currently forming a speakers
Bureau headed by Connie Golds that
will reach out
to groups and individuals Valleywide
by requesting the opportunity to pres
ent
our DVD
and speak about the vital work of Shel
ter From The Storm.
We will keep you informed of forthcom
ing events and
we extend to you an invitation to join
our Sheltering Sisters
Auxiliary. For additional information,
please call 760-674-0400
or visit our website at shelterfromthe
storm.com.
Warm regards,
Maggie Montez
Sheltering Sisters Auxillary Presiden
t
Winter 2009
SFTS
News
www.shelterfromthestorm.com
$250,000 GRANT TO MAKE UP DRASTIC
SHORTFALL AT SHELTER FROM THE STORM
Desert Healthcare District to
Help Assist More Than 500 Local
Victims of Domestic Abuse
generosity and spirit of giving that will
help so many local women and children in
need. This generous contribution supports
the outstanding work being done at Shelter
from the Storm and helps ensure that
A $250,000 grant from Desert Healthwomen and young people facing violence
care District will help Shelter From
in their own homes have a place to go and
The Storm remain open after Governor
caring individuals to turn to. I commend
Schwarzenegger used the line-item veto
Desert Healthcare District for playing
(July 2009) to eliminate 100% of State
such an important role in giving back to
funding for domestic violence emergenour community and helping to bring hope
cies. The funding cut translated into a
and healing to people facing devastating
loss of $250,000 in core operating funds
circumstances.” for the local agency, which is dedicated
The grant funds will sustain core staff
to assisting women and children who are
and operations in order to keep the Emervictims of domestic violence. With private
gency Shelter and its services open. It will
donations stagnant and fundraisers netting
also ensure that victims who are monosignificantly less income, the grant will
lingual in Spanish will receive critical
help keep the agency’s doors open to serve
psychotherapeutic services from a bilinmore than 500 District residents at the
gual clinician and psychiatrist. All of the
Emergency Shelter.
victims served by Shelter From The Storm
“It’s practically unthinkable that the
live at or below the poverty level, and the
Governor and State lawmakers would
shelter is often the provider of ‘last resort’
cut domestic abuse funding so drastiresponding to the poorest of the poor –
cally, especially with the demand for our
marginalized women and children who
services up nearly one
have been underserved
third from last year,”
“We do not think that
by the heath care,
said Lynn Moriarty,
and social
Shelter From The Storm education,
Executive Director
service systems.
of Shelter From The
is an optional service”
“We do not think
Storm. “Luckily,
that Shelter From The
Desert Healthcare District realized the
Storm is an optional service,” said Glen
massive impact this loss of funding would
Grayman, MD, Board President for Desert
cause for our agency, and stepped in to
Healthcare District. “We have to maintain
help us sustain these critical services.
a safe place where women and children
Sadly, domestic violence affects thousands
who are victims of domestic violence can
of women and children right here in the
go to begin building a better life. Times
Coachella Valley each year, and now
may be tough economically, but this orgathanks to the District, our doors will stay
nization is not one we can afford to lose.”
open to help them get back on their feet.”
Shelter From The Storm was founded
From Washington D.C., Congressin 1988 in response to the critical needs
woman Mary Bono-Mack said of the
of domestic violence victims in the
contribution: “Today I join our entire
Coachella Valley. Since then, the organicommunity in offering my heartfelt thanks
zation has expanded to operate a 72-bed
to Desert Healthcare District for their
emergency shelter for approximately
SFTS
SERVICES
Emergency Shelter
Community
Counseling Center
Individual & Group
Counseling for Women
and Children
400 women and children annually. Shelter From the Storm is among the largest
domestic violence shelters in California
and is the only domestic violence victim
assistance organization located within
Desert Healthcare District’s boundaries.
The mission of the organization is to
provide support, prevent violence, and
promote justice for victims of crime and
abuse, their families and communities.
Accomplishments of Shelter From The
Storm include the operation of an onsite
preschool program and adjacent K-12
Schoolhouse, making it possible for children to reside at the Emergency Shelter
without missing school and falling behind
academically. An onsite medical clinic,
staffed by volunteer doctors and nurses,
was recently opened at the Emergency
Shelter. Other programs include a 24-hour
Crisis Line, a Community Counseling
Center, Outreach Centers, Teen Dating
Violence Prevention Program and Transitional Housing for domestic violence
survivors preparing for independent living
in the community.
Desert Healthcare District is a government agency, established by the state of
California in 1948, to improve and support
community health programs within a 457square mile service area in the Coachella
Valley. The District also owns and oversees the lease of Desert Regional Medical
Center in Palm Springs.
Advocacy
Community Education
Substance Abuse
Counseling
3 Outreach
Drop-in Centers
Parenting Groups
Case Management
Transitional Housing
Teen Dating
Violence Prevention
Professional
Consultation
24-Hour Crisis Line
Speakers Bureau