E-Newsletter: February 2021
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Congratulations to Laurel House's own Ms. Freda Cannon, who has been with us for 28 years.
“It has been my joy to be a part of the Laurel House family for so many years," said Ms. Freda. "I have been inspired by the strength and courage and the resilience of the women and children I have encountered.”
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Ms. Freda was recently presented with a certificate from the PA Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) by Laurel House's Rapid Re-Housing Stability Coach, Christina Campbell, Director of Shelter and Housing, Britni Harris, Shelter Counselor Advocate, Kathy Brenneman (pictured above), and Executive Director, Beth Sturman (pictured right), for her years of dedication and service to Laurel House and the greater Montgomery County community.
Thank you Ms. Freda, for your hard work, years of dedication, and commitment to those we serve! We look forward to many more!
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Groundbreaking for our new Safe Haven Center |
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Thank you to everyone who joined us on February 4, 2021, for our Virtual Groundbreaking Ceremony for Laurel House's Safe Haven Center.
A special thank you to our guest speakers, Dr. Valerie Arkoosh, Chair of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners, Tara Gaudin, Director of Health and Human Services (Montgomery Co.), State Senator Maria Collett, Liz McNaney, Chair of Upper Gwynedd Commissioners, and Freda Cannon, Assistant to the Director of Shelter and Housing at Laurel House, for their time and support.
We are excited to begin this public phase of our Capital Campaign. The Capital Campaign: Rebuilding Lives, Restoring Hope will allow us to relocate our previous shelter into a new building that will become known as our Safe Haven Center. This new, secure, and easily accessible facility will also house some of our supportive services for domestic violence victims and their children.
We're two thirds of the way to our Capital Campaign fundraising goal! For more information on the Safe Haven Center or the Capital Campaign, click here.
If you missed the ceremony, click here to view it.
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Laurel's Loft
No Show Fashion Show
Due to the ongoing health crisis, Laurel's Loft Thrift Shop is unable to host their traditional fashion show luncheon. Instead, we hope you will support them for their No Show Fashion Show!
From March 1st through April 1st, for $40, you can receive a $10 voucher to Laurel's Loft and be entered in a drawing for several fabulous prizes, ranging from a getaway to Rehoboth Beach to a family game night basket and more!
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Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month |
February is teen dating violence awareness month.
Teen dating violence is more common than many people think. One in three teens in the U.S. will experience physical, sexual, or emotional abuse by someone they are in a relationship with before they become adults.
Education is the first step in preventing violence. Last year, Laurel House educated 7,115 middle, high school, and college students on healthy relationships and safe dating. Even amidst the ongoing health crisis, Laurel House has been able to offer virtual education services.
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Black History Month
February is also Black History Month.
At Laurel House, our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee created a Black History Month calendar, full of webinars, songs, historical figures and more, complete with an all-staff roundtable discussion scheduled for early March to share what we have learned. In addition to celebrating Black history, it is our goal to truly understand what diversity, equity, and inclusion mean, and make sure that understanding is evident in the way we interact with and help clients, colleagues, and our community.
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Thank you to everyone who joined us for Breaking the Silence: Shifting the Culture through Education, Empowerment, and Safety.
The theme for this year's Breaking the Silence was prevention and education. This virtual event featured a panel of speakers who discussed the warning signs of an abusive relationship. Speakers included keynote speaker Bill Mitchell, author of When Dating Hurts, Laurel House's own Community Education Coordinator Lydia Lynes, and mother and daughter Carla and Mackenzie, who shared their personal experiences with domestic violence.
Click Here to order your copy of When Dating Hurts.
For more information on the event, speakers, and presentation, click here.
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At Laurel House, we do not just provide safety for survivors of domestic violence. We give them the tools they need to get back on their feet and live self-sufficiently and with a new-found sense of peace and independence.
In the summer of 2020, Laurel House was awarded funding through PCADV and the Allstate Foundation to implement a new Economic Justice and Empowerment Program. We are excited to use the Allstate Foundation's curriculum for the workshops, and to utilize our community network to help survivors as they safety plan financially, build and repair their credit, and plan budgets that will help them meet short- and long-term goals. We began our first five-week session in February, and group members have already shared how helpful the program has been.
Group members will benefit from the others' support as they navigate topics that can be triggering and overwhelming for anyone, let alone a survivor of financial abuse. We are excited about the program's potential to help many more survivors as they move forward!
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Rated 4 Stars on Charity Navigator! |
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For our toll free, 24-hour hotline, call 1-800-642-3150 |
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