Give the gift of your time and/or money to a local shelter. Many times, the women and their families leave an abusive relationship with just the clothes on their backs and funding for shelters is very tight, so pretty much everything is needed. If you belong to a group or organization, get them to “adopt” too.
Some suggestions: Ask a local cosmetology school, hair or nail salon to sponsor a Day of Beauty for women in a shelter. Stores like Costco and BJs Wholesale Club could be asked to donate such items as toilet paper, shampoo, toothbrushes and other toiletries, laundry soap, clothes, furniture, children’s toys, books and school supplies. Items like this are in very short supply at shelters and there are lots of possibilities for contributions.
Some resources:
- Empire Gives Back: http://www.empiregivesback.com/
- Cut it Out: http://www.cutitout.org/
- Go the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence to find a shelter near you and for more suggestions on how you can help
- Crime Prevention 101 radio show on ways to help: http://tinyurl.com/hairdressers-DV
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. If you need immediate help, call National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or 1-800-787-3224 (TDD). Crime Prevention 101
