At our February meeting, our group heard from Deb Weinstein, the director of Starting Point, a local non profit whose mission is:
- Ensuring quality services are provided to victims of relationship violence and sexual abuse;
- Preventing future relationship violence;
- Promoting social change ; and
- Encouraging accountability and education for perpetrators and stalkers.
Deb shared much important information such as the increase from assisting 5,000 victims to get housing in 2019-2020, to 16,000 the following year . Housing can be emergency or shelter housing. The pattern that they are currently seeing is people staying longer and having a higher level of trauma with increased long term needs.
Starting Point runs a shelter called Grace House. It is a safe environment for victims to get help in the way of emotional support as well as housing. Our Altrusa Club is starting a new project; Care bags, which incoming guests will receive. The bags are filled with personal care items as well as a not of encouragement. Many times when someone leaves an unsafe situation they literally only have the clothes on their backs so being able to have a bag with shampoos, conditioners, toothbrushes etc. is helpful.
Pictured: Nancy Spaulding, President, Deb Weinstein from Starting Point holding the Care Bag and Cathy Babutt who brought the idea to the club.
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