Shania Twain Speaks Out Against Family Violence
Shania Twain has released a new public service announcement in which she encourages victims of family violence to seek help.
“Sometimes home is where the hurt is,” the singer says, adding, “It’s really confusing to be hurt by someone you love. Whether it’s physical, sexual or emotional, abuse is abuse.”
Twain adds that despite victims’ reluctance to talk about the subject, family violence should not be kept a secret. “Violence — especially in your own home — is never acceptable,” she states.
Thankful for friends!
Patti Marsh, a nurse by profession, loves animals and is a bonifide “rescue mom” to cats and dogs. Throughout the year, Patti brings The Shelter donations for the women and never forgets our four-legged friends in our Shelter kennel! Our camera caught her on a recent visit with her good friend Carol Drouin, our residential supervisor (left in photo). At this time of the year, we are thankful for wonderful friends like Patti.For more information on how you can help, call The Shelter at 239-775-3862.
Woman’s Club ‘elves’ deliver holiday goodies
Holiday ‘elves’ from the Naples Woman’s Club delivered hand-made stockings filled with goodies for Shelter residents.
From left, Shelter Events Manager Susan Utz, Joy Buck, Shelter Community Education Manager Jason Young, Pat Limbach, Shelter Executive Assistant Karen Smith, Ivone Smith, Shelter Volunteer Coordinator Jamie Gerry and Lee Kraus.
In the Spirit of Giving…
Thank you to Gardner Colby Galleries , which raised $3,300 for The Shelter! During the month of December, the gallery donated a portion of all gallery sales to The Shelter for Abused Women & Children and the United Arts Council of Collier County. If you are thinking of a special holiday present for yourself or someone special, this is a great opportunity for your gift to keep on giving.
Gardner Colby Gallery kicked off the season of giving by hosting a holiday party for The Shelter for Abused Women & Children.
Shelter receives $1 for every Sunshine Facebook like
Michael Wynn, Sunshine President, and Linda Oberhaus, Executive Director for The Shelter, are hoping you will help us spread the word and help this worthy cause. Now through 12/31/14, we will donate $1.00 to The Shelter for every new like we receive on our page. Please help us by sharing this post with everyone you can and we can all make a difference.The Shelter provides services to women, men and children of all races, socio-economic status and religions who are survivors of domestic violence. They provided over 20,000 nights of shelter with 60 beds and 5 transitional cottages last year for those in need.
Naples Christmas Parade 2014
NextGen members, Shelter staff and volunteers took part in the Naples Christmas Parade, Dec. 9, 2014, making their way from Broad Street down 5th Avenue South. More more information on NextGen and how you can get involved, call Tamika Seaton at 239-775-3862, ext 217 or email tseaton@naplesshelter.org
[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”24″ gal_title=”Christmas Parade 2014″]
Fox 4 Holiday Morning Blend edition
Linda Oberhaus joins Stephanie Summers and Carley Wegner of the Morning Blend for a special holiday evening show, Dec. 6, 2014. Linda discusses how The Shelter provides a happier holiday for those affected by domestic abuse and how you can help make the holidays brighter for others.
Shop for the Shelter
What a great time we had during Shop for The Shelter, Dec. 7, hosted by Options Thrift Shoppe and Ronto Realty at Naples Square. Options ‘elves’ transformed the Naples Square Sales Gallery into a holiday boutique of brand new high-end designer wear donated by local department stores. Early estimates of this holiday shopping social topped $7,000, all of which will benefit The Shelter for Abused Women & Children.
[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”29″ gal_title=”Shop for the Shelter”]
Thank you to the Naples Daily News for covering this wonderful event
By Kalhan Rosenblatt
NAPLES, Fla. – Rickie Klein knew there was one thing she wanted for the holidays this year: a party.
But not just any party — a party with a purpose. Klein, who is a guild member of the Shelter for Abused Women & Children and an Options Thrift Shoppe ambassador committee chair, teamed up with Naples Square Sales Gallery for the first ever “Light Up Your Holidays” benefit on Sunday.
“It was kind of spontaneous,” Klein said. “I saw the space and said it would make a fabulous venue for a party and (The Shelter for Abused Women & Children) is a fabulous organization.”
For $20, attendees could shop for new, high-end clothing and jewelry, snack on finger food, sip Champagne and socialize at the Naples Square Sales Gallery, all while helping The Shelter for Abused Women & Children and Options Thrift Shoppe, which is owned by the shelter.
“It was so close to the shelter, it just made perfect sense,” said Wanda Cross, director of sales for Naples Square.
All 150 tickets had sold out by Sunday afternoon, and the floor was packed with eager shoppers hoping to make a difference.
Brand new necklaces, hats, shoes and dresses from designers such as Saks Fifth Avenue and Jimmy Choo lined the halls of Naples Square.
“(The best part) is knowing we’re raising money for the shelter,” shelter Executive Director Linda Oberhaus said. “Our goal is to one day put ourselves out of business and end domestic violence.”
Many attendees, as well as volunteers, knew someone the shelter had helped.
“My husband works as a physician and he would see cases (of domestic violence),” said shelter volunteer and shopper Joanne Beightol. “We know people who have struggled with domestic abuse.”
Beightol, who brought her 16-year-old daughter Caera along, said she came out to the “Light Up Your Holidays” benefit to “put her money where her mouth is.”
“I like the fact that you’re buying clothes for your self but you’re helping women and children at the same time,” Caera said.
By 3 p.m. — the halfway mark of the two-hour affair — $5,000 had been raised, exceeding the original $4,000 goal. Klein said 100 percent of the money received from ticket sales would go directly to the shelter.
“We’re already planning on doing this again next year,” said Contract Data Administrator for Naples Square, Amy Schiffer. “We want to do tie-ins for other nonprofits. We’re excited about giving back.”
Carole Beauregard of Naples perused the clothing racks at “Light Up Your Holidays.” As a member of the guild, she said she convinced her girlfriends to come to the event. She also persuaded friend Ulrich Elben to donate his book, “Naples the Beautiful,” which was sold for $10 a piece.
“Every nickel counts for the shelter,” Beauregard said.
Klein said she drove Kaydee Tuff, communications manager for the shelter, “bonkers” putting on “Light Up Your Holidays,” but Tuff was grateful for her persistence.
“(Klein) definitely deserves all the credit,” Tuff said. “If it wasn’t for her, this wouldn’t have been possible.”
For Klein, knowing she’s able to be festive while giving back made the whole process worthwhile.
“You can feel the joy and happiness in the room,” Klein said. “You can feel the energy of women helping women.”
Linda Oberhaus interview with Fox 4 News – Marco homicide
CLICK TO VIEW VIDEO
By Karl Fortier. CREATED Dec 4, 2014
NAPLES, Fla. – While the violent death of a Marco Island resident – allegedly at the hands of his live-in girlfriend – has shocked many in Southwest Florida, it’s another sad statistic that a local domestic violence expert says could have been avoided.
A Collier County Sheriff’s Office report says that Lisa Troemner, 24, fatally stabbed her 30-year-old boyfriend Trevor Smith in their condo early Tuesday. Troemner entered a nearby 7-11 covered in blood, and allegedly confessed to the crime.
Linda Oberhaus, executive director of the Shelter for Abused Women and Children in Naples, says she isn’t surprised by the weapon Troemner said she used.
“In the majority of domestic violence homicides, what we know is the victims are female,” Oberhaus said. “In cases where victims are male, a knife is typically used as happened in this case.”
Troemner’s Facebook page showed her and Smith as a happy couple. She has posted numerous photos of plants on the page. It seemed a stark contrast to the distraught appearance she showed Wednesday, when she made her first court appearance.
The sheriff’s office report reveals that Troemner told detectives that she tried to kill herself after stabbing Smith.
“A high percentage of cases actually attempt suicide,” Oberhaus said. “Some are successful, some not successful.”
Oberhaus says that while Troemner and Smith’s relationship had a tragic outcome, domestic violence fatalities have decreased since domestic abuse shelters began to spread in the 1970’s. She says she hopes both men and women who find themselves in violent relationships seek help to avoid situations that can turn deadly.
“The best thing they can do is just get help at their local domestic violence center,” she said.
Anyone needing help with a domestic violence situation can call a 24-hour hotline: 239-775-1101.
Thank you Grace Lutheran Church!
A big THANK YOU to Grace Lutheran Church for donating hundreds of pounds of food items to make the holidays brighter for our Shelter residents!
Happy Thanksgiving!
The Shelter is extremely grateful for its many supporters who give generously of their time, talent and treasure to further our vision that one day, every home in Collier County will be a safe haven for the family it shelters.
Thanks to your support, we provided more than 20,000 nights of shelter and 33,000 hours of counseling to victims of abuse in FY 2013-14. Our Community Education programs equipped 20,000 individuals with training to help prevent, protect and prevail over domestic violence through advocacy, empowerment and social change.
The Shelter has many tools in place from school curriculum to community partnerships, but we also need you. Without question, it is your support that brings our vision to life.
May your Thanksgiving be filled with peace and happiness.
With Gratitude,
Linda Oberhaus, Executive Director
Two more weeks until Shop for The Shelter!
Options Thrift Shoppe and Ronto Realty at Naples Square invite the Naples community to “Shop for The Shelter” from 2-4 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 7, at Naples Square Sales Gallery, 100 Goodlette-Frank Road South at the corner of 1st Ave. S & Goodlette-Frank Rd. S.
This holiday shopping social will benefit The Shelter for Abused Women & Children and will feature brand new high-end designer wear, shoes and accessories donated by local department stores.
“All of the items for purchase will be new name-brand pieces,” says Options Thrift Shoppe Manager Maria McCormick. “This is a first-time event for Options and we are excited to be partnering with Naples Square to raise funds, awareness and support for The Shelter for Abused Women & Children.”
The shopping social will feature a light fare, wine, champagne and dessert. Tickets are $20 per person and may be purchased by calling Susan Utz at 239.775.3862, ext. 261.
Monarch Society Luncheon 2014
The Monarch Society held its annual appreciation luncheon in support of The Shelter for Abused Women & Children on Monday, Nov. 17, at Beach House at the Ritz Carlton, Naples. This year’s keynote speaker was Dr. Amanda Evans, Ed. D. MSW Assistant Professor at Florida Gulf Coast University, who addressed the myths and realities of human trafficking.
See photo spread in Florida Weekly
Pictures worth a thousand words
The Shelter’s advocates provide services in three languages in Naples and Immokalee with four licensed therapists and five Master’s level clinicians who provide free, empowerment-based, trauma-informed counseling services.
English Speaking ~ Spanish Speaking ~ Creole Speaking
Quite frequently we are blessed with works of art through our many outreach services and our Healing Arts program. These pictures and paintings depict the participant’s journey from pain to lives free of domestic violence.
[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”23″ gal_title=”Healing Arts”]
Reminder!
Join Us!
For our NextGen Meeting & Tour of The Shelter
Thursday, November 20, 2014
5:30 pm at The Shelter for Abused Women & Children
Meeting topics will include Adopting a Family for the Holidays, participation in the City of Naples’ Christmas Parade and initial planning for the 2015 Field Day.
For more information about NextGen or to attend the meeting, please contact Tamika Seaton, Senior Development Officer, at 239-775-3862 ext. 217 or email Tamika at Tseaton@naplesshelter.org.
Oberhaus addresses letter writer
The Shelter’s Executive Director Linda Oberhaus responds to Naples Daily News letter writer Dennis Wichterman, Sr. Both letters are posted below (Wichterman published 11/14/14; Oberhaus published 11/17/14) click to view larger
Benefit brings holiday bikes for Shelter kids
Thank you to Marla Ottenstein of Professional Organizer Florida for supporting The Shelter with her recent “Getting Organized” workshop, Nov. 13, at Dagny’s Spirits in the Pebblebrook Center.
Marla kindly waived her workshop fees asking instead for a donation for The Shelter. The event was a HUGE success and raised enough money to purchase approximately 10 bikes for the boys and girls who will be in residence at The Shelter Naples during the Christmas/Hanukkah holiday season.
Marla expressed her thanks to Diane Eckland Van Parys, Sandy Cotter and Jane Elizabeth Brown, as well as many others, for their continued and enthusiastic support.
[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”21″ gal_title=”Get Organized workshop”]
The Fine Art of Giving Back
Our thanks to Gardner Colby Galleries in Naples. During the month of December, the gallery will donate a portion of all gallery sales to The Shelter for Abused Women & Children and the United Arts Council of Naples.
