SWFL domestic abuse shelter’s fundraiser underway

By Reporter Nicole Gabe and Writer Jack Lowenstein

A shelter in Southwest Florida is helping abused women and children escape dangerous situations.

The Shelter for Abused Women & Children in Collier County is holding its annual “Mending Broken Hearts from Home” fundraiser to support those victims and their children who have experienced domestic abuse.

A victim of abuse and resident of the shelters says, without it, she would not be living today. We protected her identity for her personal safety.

“I couldn’t take anymore,” the woman explained. “It couldn’t go on any longer.”

This resident of the shelter is living proof of the good work done there. She told us domestic violence is real, and it’s happening in our backyard.

We asked her where she would be today is not at the shelter, and she was up front.

“Dead. Unfortunately, I believe I would be dead,” she told us. “I believe that things would’ve escalated, maybe not intentionally, but accidentally. I believe the person I had to leave would’ve killed me.”

She entered the shelter hopeless.

“When I came here, I was terrified,” the resident said.

Two months later, she’s on her way to living a new life.

“Yes. We are saving lives every single day,” said Julie Franklin, the COO of the shelter.

Franklin says the shelter is absolutely necessary. The mission is to prevent, protect and prevail.

“We know that individuals are either choosing homelessness or choosing to live in the abuse or they can come to our safe haven.

As community members, we can also help support victims of domestic abuse and their children, as the shelter’s fundraiser is underway. It includes a virtual silent auction.

In 2019, the last year specific numbers were available, Collier County Sheriff’s Office responded to 1,686 domestic violence calls.

Experts say, with so many people isolated because of the pandemic, domestic violence is only getting worse.

MORE: Shelter for Abused Women & Children – Mending Broken Hearts from Home