The Shelter’s Big Purple Purse is all around town spreading the word about the Purple Purse Challenge! If you haven’t made a donation yet, now is the time! Donate $25 or more and you will be entered to win one of three name brand designer purses including a limited edition bag designed by actress Kerry Washington. Go to the Purple Purse Page to for more information or to make a donation.
Nancy & Skip Potter recently visited The Shelter to find out more information on The Shelter. Last Spring, the couple made a donation to The Shelter through the Give Where you Live campaign. They chose to support The Shelter because they have family members directly affected by domestic violence and they believe in The Shelter’s mission to protect, to prevent and to prevail over domestic violence through advocacy, empowerment and social change.
On Oct. 7, 2015, Naples Mayor John Sorey proclaimed October National Domestic Violence Awareness Month in the City of Naples. Accepting the proclamation was The Shelter for Abused Women & Children Executive Director Linda Oberhaus and Naples Police Chief Tom Weschler, who serves on The Shelter’s Board of Directors.
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Shelter Executive Director Linda Oberhaus was joined by Collier County Sheriff Kevin Rambosk and District Attorney Steve Russell in accepting a Domestic Violence Awareness Month proclamation, Oct. 9, 2015, from Collier County Commissioners.
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Executive Director Linda Oberhaus and Immokalee Outreach Office Manager Josie Means accepted a proclamation from the Collier County School Board, Oct. 15, 2015 during the school board meeting in Immokalee.
Shelter Stewardship Manager Naomi Goren with afghans donated by Warm Up America
The Shelter recently received four huge boxes of handmade afghans from Warm Up America! The afghans were knitted and crocheted by volunteers across America from California to New York and even Canada. Tucked inside each afghan is a handwritten note from the volunteer who created it.
“We are especially touched by the kindness of Warm Up America,” said Executive Director Linda Oberhaus. “We know how much these personal gifts mean to our participants and the notes are a wonderful way to let them know that someone they don’t even know cares about them and wishes them well.”
Warm Up America! is a charitable organization made up of volunteers across the country who knit and crochet handmade afghans, clothing and other items for those in need. Whether they work alone or in groups with friends, family members, or co-workers, participants share a heightened sense of community spirit. Warm Up America! distributes thousands of afghans, hats, scarves and other crochet and knit items each year to organizations including:
American Red Cross ChaptersClick Here for more information on Warm Up America
The Shelter’s emergency shelter advocates report the pantry is very low or completely out of the following items:
During their stay at The Shelter, emergency shelter participants prepare their own meals for themselves and their families from food items in The Shelter’s pantry.
During your next grocery visit, please consider making a personal donation or holding a donation drive at your place of business. Donations may be dropped off at Options Thrift Shoppe, 968 Second Avenue North in Naples. For more information, call 239.775.3862. CLICK FOR MAP
The Community Foundation of Collier County partners with The Shelter to improve the quality of life in Collier County by connecting donors to community needs and providing leadership on critical community issues. For good. Forever.
Incorporated in 1985, The Community Foundation helps charitable-minded people create legacies for the immediate and future needs of our area.
One in four American women will experience domestic violence in their lifetime. That’s more women than are affected by breast cancer, ovarian cancer and lung cancer combined. Still, more than one-third of Americans have never discussed the issue.
Throughout the month of October, The Shelter for Abused Women & Children is raising public awareness with a variety of events as part of Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM).
Purple Purse Challenge: From October 1-27, The Shelter will take part in the Allstate Purple Purse Challenge. Those who donate $25 or more will automatically be entered to win one of three designer purple purses including a limited edition purse designed by Purple Purse spokeswoman, actress Kerry Washington.
Moe’s Corporate Run: 6:15 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 8, Moe’s (corner of US 41 and Immokalee Road). Join this three-mile run/walk to benefit The Shelter. All levels of runners and walkers are welcome. This race is not chip timed.
The Purple Party: 6:30 p.m., Friday, Oct. 16, Paradise Wine. Hosted by The Shelter’s NextGen group, the evening will be a splash of purple from dress to drink. Purple is the symbolic color for courage, survival, honor and dedication to ending domestic violence. Tickets available at naplesshelter.org/purpleparty
Ride for The Shelter Kick Off: 6-8 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 22, 7th Avenue Social. Join Gordon Kellam and Glen Schwesinger as they kick-off plans for a 1,156-mile bicycle ride from Naples to Washington, D.C. The Ride will raise national awareness for The Shelter’s Gentle’men Against Domestic Violence® (GADV) initiative, which calls on men to stand with women as equal partners to end domestic violence. Tickets available at naplesshelter.org/ride
Mercato Goes Purple: 4-9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24 – Merchants throughout the center will have special promotions, discounts and prizes. Servers and clerks in many establishments will wear purple. New this year will be a free concert from 7-9 p.m., featuring dance band Karibbean Groove. The Shelter’s Hands are for Helping program will be set up for public participation from 4-6 p.m.
The public is encouraged to pick up a Purple Passport to Peace at Mercato businesses. Visit various vendors, find a purple Shelter sign and enter the phrase or statistic into the appropriate space on their passport. Passports will be turned in at The Shelter’s information booth and participants will be entered to win prizes donated by Mercato businesses.
The Immokalee Peace March & Children’s Fair: 3-7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 26 at the Collier County Immokalee Sports Complex, 505 Escambia St. – The Children’s Fair takes place from 3-6 p.m. and is followed by the Peach March at 6 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Activities include children’s games, food, entertainment, a talent show and information booths hosted by partner agencies. For more information, email Josie Means at jpuente@naplesshelter.org.
NAPLES DAILY NEWS
IN THE KNOW
By Tim Aten
Q: Can the Naples Daily News light its building in purple for Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October?
— K.T., Golden Gate
A: The newspaper office reflects your wish to shed light on an issue that hits home for too many people.
Beginning on the night of Oct. 1 and continuing through the month, purple spotlights will color the front of the newspaper’s headquarters at 1100 Immokalee Road.
The “Purple Night Lights” nationwide campaign is intended to increase awareness of domestic violence issues and their effect upon local children and families.
Members of the Lilly USA South Florida Cardiovascular Sales Team dropped off donations to benefit The Shelter for Abused Women & Children.
While hosting the Lilly USA South Florida Cardiovascular Sales Team District Meeting in Naples, team members from throughout the state donated a variety of items to The Shelter to show corporate support for the Naples community.
“We always encourage agents to be great goodwill stewards in our own local communities but when we get together as a team, we utilize the power of a group by giving back as a team,” explained Erika Faulk, “We learned about The Shelter from a local Lilly rep who has individually supported the shelter and we thought this would be a wonderful way for us to share our blessings.”
Faulk said The Shelter’s mission and the opportunity to help entire families, women, men, children and pets touched the hearts of their team members.
One member stated, “‘It’s hard enough to think about the human members needing the services but truthfully, I never considered what happens to the pet members of the family. What a wonderful organization. Thank you so much for all you do.”
The following guest commentary by Executive Director Linda Oberhaus was published in the October 4, 2015 edition of the Naples Daily News
Naples Daily News Guest commentary
Domestic Violence Awareness Month
Linda Oberhaus, Executive Director
Naples Shelter for Abused Women & Children
It was 2 a.m. Jennifer awoke to Jay’s demand that she make him a sandwich. When she told him she was tired, he pulled her off the bed by her legs, climbed on top of her and began punching her in the face and arms. Nearby in his crib, their 3-month-old son awoke to the screams and began to cry. Jennifer struggled free, grabbed the baby and ran outside.
A neighbor heard her cries for help and ran out to see what was happening. Jay grabbed Jennifer by the hair and pulled her back into the house. He threw her on the couch and told her if she ever ran from him again, he would kill her. To drive the point home, he grabbed their cat by the neck and cut the terrified pet with a kitchen knife.
He had Jennifer pinned against the wall when sheriff’s deputies arrived. Jay was arrested. Deputies told Jennifer about The Shelter for Abused Women & Children and she arrived hours later with her baby, her cat and a bag of clothes.
At the shelter, Jennifer received counseling and legal assistance. A judge granted her a 10-year injunction for protection. She and her son began to heal. Today she is piecing her life back together.
Although the names were changed, Jennifer’s story is true. She is one of thousands of survivors served by the shelter since it began in 1989. Jennifer is among the 1 in 4 American women who suffer physical violence at the hands of spouses, intimate partners or family members during her lifetime. That’s more women than are affected by breast cancer, ovarian cancer and lung cancer combined.
During October’s Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the shelter is calling on every Collier County resident to take a stand of support for countless victims and survivors like Jennifer, their children and families, their friends and their communities impacted by domestic violence.
You can help raise awareness. Start the conversation at your dinner table, in your social circle or at the office water cooler. Daily news items, social media, radio and television offer a variety of stories to start the conversation.
I never thought the sports section of the newspaper would be a source of conversation until the Ray Rice case broke last fall. If you need some tips on how to start the conversation, check our website at naplesshelter.org.
Although the shelter is probably best known for providing protection, it is but one leg of our three-pronged mission — to prevent, to protect, to prevail.
Prevention is the key to social change. It begins at home, at school and in the work place. In partnership with Collier County Public Schools, The Shelter for Abused Women & Children seeks to prevent domestic violence before it even begins. Young children receive the message that Hands are for Helping, Not for Hitting. Teens learn to recognize unhealthy relationships and early signs of abuse. Through the Raising Gentle’men program, young men and boys challenge traditional male stereotypes of aggression and control.
The shelter’s community and professional education programs provide employers, medical personnel and first responders with the tools needed to recognize and provide assistance when they suspect abuse.
Jennifer’s life might have been different had she learned the warning signs of an unhealthy relationship. Perhaps her employer or physician might have intervened had he or she known the signs of abuse and how to offer her assistance. Jay’s life might have been impacted by a Raising Gentle’men advocate. We will never know.
What we do know is domestic violence is not “somebody else’s problem.” Last year in Collier County, there were 1,539 reported domestic violence offenses, including two murders, 16 forcible rapes and 236 aggravated assaults. Chances are very likely you know at least one of these victims.
We cannot remain silent upon experiencing, witnessing or hearing about incidents of domestic violence. We must take a stand to help victims and, ultimately, put an end to domestic violence in Collier County.
Assistance is a phone call away. If you or someone you know is impacted by domestic violence, call the shelter’s crisis line at 239-775-1101. If you want to learn how you can take a stand, call 239-775-3862 or go online to naplesshelter.org.
The AllState Foundation Purple Purse Challenge has begun! – click DONATE to help The Shelter WIN the fight against domestic abuse!
Donations of $25 or more will be entered to win one of three designer purses – CLICK HERE for more information on the Purple Purse and The Shelter’s Purple Purse Drawing
Jackie Evancho
Operatic singing prodigy Jackie Evancho will perform during this year’s Mending Broken Hearts with Hope Luncheon, hosted by The Shelter for Abused Women & Children, Friday, Jan. 15, 2016, at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort in Naples.
Evancho is best known for wowing America’s Got Talent judges with her pitch-perfect operatic vocals at age 10. The young soprano from Pittsburgh won runner-up and launched her music career, signing with Columbia Records.
Since her television appearance, Evancho has established herself as a legitimate force within the classical crossover genre and participated in many high profile events including the Oprah finale spectacular as well as the lighting of the National Christmas Tree in Washington, D.C., where she sang for President and Mrs. Obama.
Now in its 16th year, the Luncheon attracts more than 700 attendees annually. Highlights include a silent auction and two-day designer boutique, which will showcase vendors from across the country. The boutique is open to the public and will run from 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Friday, Jan. 15, and 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 16, at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort. Chico’s FAS, Inc., Arthrex, Inc., Joan Loos, Gwyn and Bill Sanford and Candy and Bill Raveis are the founding and signature sponsors for this year’s luncheon. Proceeds from the Mending Broken Hearts luncheon, a signature fundraising event, will benefit The Shelter’s mission to prevent, protect, and prevail over domestic violence and human trafficking through advocacy, empowerment and social change.Today, at 15, Evancho made Billboard Magazine’s list of music movers-and-shakers under the age of 21. Her U.S. shows are also sell-outs and have been taped for broadcast on PBS for the Great Performances series. Jackie’s first PBS special was one of the top pledge producing performances in PBS’ history.
For tickets or more information, contact Susan Utz at 239-775-3862, ext. 261 or email sutz@naplesshelter.org. More information on The Shelter is available at naplesshelter.org
Members of the Living Word Family Church provided invaluable assistance during Options’ Sidewalk Sale, Saturday, September 19.
“They were a fun and hard working group,” said Options Thrift Shoppe Manager Maria McCormick, “They were truly a godsend!”
In photo, from left: Maria McCormick, Frank Hundley, Donna Dittamore, Chuck Dittamore, Carlos Vasallo, Maria Vasallo, Troy Woodard, Kelly Woodard, Jenny Jimenez and Nancy Sidney.
Options Thrift Shoppe got a fantastic surprise, Sept. 28, when Designers’ Rug Center stopped by the store to donate 50 brand new rugs. Photo: from left, Craig Harrington, Chris Smith and Maria McCormick, Options Manager. Click the links below to view some of the styles. Options is the fashionable support arm of The Shelter for Abused Women & Children – Click here for more OPTIONS
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From October 1-27, The Shelter will take part in the Allstate Purple Purse Challenge, collecting donations on our CrowdRise page as we compete against other Purple Purse Community Partners from throughout the country. Your donation will help us compete for nearly $650,000 in incentive funding and direct grants contributed by The Allstate Foundation. The Purple Purse link will not “go live” until October 1 so we need your help to spread the word! Although we are grateful for any donation toward this cause, only the donations on our Crowdrise page will count toward our bonus funds.
THREE PURPLE PURSES TO BE DRAWN:
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Kerry’s 2015 Purple Purse
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Kate Spade
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Michael Kors
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Why a Purple Purse?
The purse represents the center of a woman’s financial domain and purple is the color of national domestic violence awareness. The Purple Purse charms attach to a bag or purse and show support year-round. More information can be found at www.purplepurse.com.
Why Kerry Joined Purple Purse
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Thank you to Reach for these tips on starting a conversation about domestic violence!
Throughout this year and especially in the past couple months, there have been ample opportunities to engage in conversation with friends and family about domestic violence. We believe that everyone has a role in preventing domestic violence; whether it be while watching the Superbowl or the Grammys or hearing your colleagues discuss the movie 50 Shades of Grey, we ask that you do your part by using these moments to engage those around you in a conversation about this issue. Many of us care about preventing intimate partner violence but can feel intimidated about how to get the conversation started. Here are some ideas of how to start a dialogue:
1. Educate yourself: There are many ways to learn about domestic violence, through reading information on our website or attending an in-person training. Call The Shelter at 239.775.3862 for more information.
2. If you recently learned about domestic violence in one of these ways, you can use this as an introduction. For instance, “I just attended a forum in my community that was about this issue. I learned that…”
3. Ask open ended questions: Ask the people you’re with what they think, or if you’re watching something together and the subject comes up, give space for them to share their opinions. Something as simple as, “Wow, I thought that was a really powerful PSA. What did you think of it?”
4. Use “I” statements- Let people know your opinions without shutting their ideas down. The issue of domestic violence brings up a lot of feelings in all of us. In order to be able to engage in dialogue, we need to create a space where folks can explore those feelings.
5. If you feel comfortable, share why this information is important to you. We are most impacted by the people we care about- if your friend/colleague/family member hears why you are passionate about this topic, it may make them become more interested as well.
6. Interrupt victim blaming: With compassion and kindness, we want to interrupt the idea that survivors of domestic violence are to blame for their abuse. This is where learning statistics or feeling grounded in research can help. For instance, if someone were to say, “Why don’t they just leave? It can’t be that bad if they stayed.” You can share back that there are many reasons why someone may stay in the relationship. You can counter the question with, “That’s a good question, but it really puts the blame on the survivor. Have you ever thought about the question- why do abusers abuse?”
7. Keep the conversation going: Too often we hear a lot about domestic violence right after a tragedy, but as the headlines fade, so does the conversation. It’s up to all of us to keep this dialogue alive. This dialogue can be proactive and allow us to explore what healthy relationships are and look like with the people in our lives. We don’t always know what the people we care about have experienced- simply starting the conversation can be life-saving.
Having these conversations can be uncomfortable at times, but it is a vital part of bringing this topic out of the shadows. You also don’t have to do this alone- call The Shelter at 239.775.3862 and let us know how we can help.
Local acupuncture Physician Alexandria Christ will be offering free services to Shelter participants from 12-4 p.m., every Thursday, Oct. 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29, as part of Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) activities. She is shown above with Shelter Program Advocates during last year’s sessions.
Alexandria’s services will address Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), stress, anxiety and depression. Alexandria is a member of Acupuncture Physicians Without Borders. Last year’s sessions were very beneficial to Shelter participants. For more information, email ldescoteaux@naplesshelter.org
