You can help... YWCA Fargo


Today I received the following email asking for help for the Fargo YWCA:

Dear Friend of the YWCA,

Today I write to inform you that we are over capacity at our emergency shelter for women and children. As you know, the YWCA Emergency Shelter has a capacity for 65 women and children. We are currently providing a safe haven to 40 women and 43 children. By serving 83 women and children, we have set a new record for the highest number served at our shelter at one time. We exceed capacity only to provide safe shelter for those escaping domestic violence situations. Over 67% of the women and children calling the shelter home today sought shelter because of domestic violence.

Summertime is historically a “busy” time at the YWCA Emergency Shelter. Looking over the past five years, the summer months are often a time when more women and children seek services of the YWCA. This is surprising to people, as they often think the harsh winter months would be more demanding. The YWCA is unique. We serve women and children. Women who are often afraid to flee domestic violence situations in the winter for fear of having no place to go or being forced to sleep in their cars in addition to not wanting to disrupt their child’s routine anymore than necessary.

This email is not meant to alarm you, but rather to inform you as a person who has expressed interest and support of the work of the YWCA. The increase in the number of families we are serving puts a strain on our day-to-day supplies. Our current immediate needs include:

MOST URGENT NEEDS
Deodorant
Hand soap
Body wash/ shower gel
Toilet paper

HYGIENE
Shampoo and conditioner
Pull-ups training pants (all sizes)
Diapers (4,5,6)
Feminine hygiene products
Hair ties

HOUSEHOLD
Pillows
Laundry detergent
Adult, Children's, and Infant Tylenol
Antibiotic cream

CLOTHING
New underwear (children & adult)
New or gently used bras (all sizes)

Again, I wanted you to be aware of the current situation in our community. Anything you can do to help in providing the above mentioned items would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you for your continued support of the mission and work of the YWCA,

Erin

Erin Prochnow
Executive Director
YWCA Cass Clay
701.232.2547
www.ywcacassclay.org
_______
Please if you are in the Fargo/ Moorhead area and can help please do.
If you are out of the area I would be willing to bet your area YWCA is in need of similar items.
Please if you're at the store and can grab an extra bottle of shampoo, laundry soap or other items that you are using and drop them off on your way home it will make a HUGE difference.
As you are going through your clothes or cleaning out the kids closets as you prepare for the upcoming school year please rather then throw them out drop them off at your local shelter. They will get the items they are in desperate need of, you will get a tax credit and you'll feel great knowing you are helping women and children who wouldn't be able to take that first step out the door without your help. Please every drop in the bucket makes a bigger difference than you realize and really are they asking that much of you???

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Talking Sexting with your Kids

Image
You MUST Talk about Sexting with Your Kids by Lori Getz Monday, February 8, 2010 from http://www.momlogic.com/ A recent momlogic survey uncovered some interesting yet not surprising results: Teens are sexting, and parents didn't have a clue. The results are astounding! A full 44% of teens said they have been involved in a sexting incident (either as the sender or the recipient of the image). However, less than a quarter of their parents knew about the situation prior to taking the momlogic challenge ! The majority of teens surveyed believe that sexting is just part of being a teenager. One teen (in a separate interview) went so far as to call it a "rite of passage." Overall, teens do not see sexting as a big deal or as having long-term consequences. Of those teens who admitted to sexting , only 38 percent reported knowing that sexting could lead to becoming a registered sex offenders, and only 1 in 5 teens believe that sexting is being sexually active! "It's pre...
Read more

Relavent Redbook Articles

Image
Check out these VERY relavent and eye opening article from Redbook magazine Invisible Violence By Whitney Joiner Domestic abuse isn't only about broken limbs and bruises. Many women suffer from daily belittling, verbal assault, and emotional battery that are every bit as damaging — and equally unacceptable. You May Think Domestic Violence Has Nothing to Do with You By Liz Welch That's exactly what these four people thought — until the day they found out someone close to them was being abused. The fact is, one in three Americans knows someone who has been in a violent relationship within the last year -- what they choose to do with that knowledge could help bring this epidemic to an end. Yes, You Can Stop Violence Against Women By Rebecca Davis It's unanimous: We all want violence against women to stop. In fact, nine out of 10 women said that ending domestic violence and sexual assault should be the top priority for a new women's movement (according to the Center for the...
Read more

Dating Violence..... My story

Image
February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month and this is my story of survival....... He was 6’2 and looked like he belonged on the walls of Abercrombie and Fitch with his wavy espresso colored hair, milk chocolate eyes, and rock-hard abs. He was affectionate, funny, smart, quick-witted, and dating me! For two years I was part of the “perfect high school couple.” You know, the kind they use to sell shampoo, teeth whitening strips, zit cream--anything that will make life as a teen better than it, supposedly, already is. The truth, however, was far different than the picture we were selling. In reality, my picture-perfect boyfriend was mean, demanding, abusive, and no one knew. Not even me, at least not until years later when I learned what dating violence was. Dating violence, or relationship abuse, is defined as a pattern of abusive behavior used against a girlfriend or boyfriend. It can be physical, such as hitting or kicking, verbal or emotional, including constant...
Read more