THIS SEASON, WE ARE MAKING THE HOLIDAYS BRIGHTER FOR SURVIVORS
When Mary first met her abuser, she was living overseas. They instantly fell in love and when he promised her a new life in the United States, she followed. Though she would miss her loved ones at home, she hoped they would be reunited soon. Unfortunately they were not reunited, and Mary was left alone in a foreign country with no family or support.
After six years, she left her abuser only to find out she was pregnant with twins. That’s when she found YWCA. Here, she was able to stay in our emergency domestic violence shelter where our Housing Navigation Department advocated for her to be placed in transitional housing. And with the help of our case manager, she qualified for financial relief from the Department of Social Services, which will allow her to go back to school and pay for childcare.
This holiday season, while she may not be with family, Mary and her twins will have the support and community of YWCA Glendale and Pasadena’s staff and donors who will be creating a special holiday celebration of food and gifts for Mary and her new babies.
