Our April meeting will forever be memorialized by COVID-19, the pandemic of our time! For our membership, this was our time to SHINE! There was, and still is, so many ways to fulfill our our mission to make a meaningful and positive financial impact in our community. Our members were very responsive and recognized the many charitable organizations that were overwhelmed by the challenges of operating during a pandemic. Without the benefit of an in-person meeting we still succeeded in supporting a local charity in need of our financial support. Our membership considered the Greater Cleveland Food Bank, the Helping Hands Fund-Metro Health Medical Center, and the Domestic Violence & Child Advocacy Center, for whom we voted to support with a $13,000 donation.
DVCAC’s mission is to provide services that foster safety and healing to those affected by child abuse and domestic violence, and to prevent abuse through education, advocacy, and systemic change. All DVCAC programs and services are offered for free. Demand for services has increased significantly amid the COVID-19 crisis. During this time of uncertainty and anxiety, especially economic anxiety, abuse tends to escalate. Many people would reasonably seek refuge at home, but home is not a safe place for everyone. People in domestic violence situations are now isolated at home with their abusers. Children who are home from school are in particular danger as they are forced to spend more time with someone who is abusing them.
Specifically, DVCAC’s is trying to maintain the following crucial services:
- Emergency shelter which operates 24 hours per day 7 days per week and has 46 beds. More than 60% of people in shelter are children.
- Where victims are in high risk categories, DVCAC provides hotel living in order to keep them safe as well as food and transportation where needed.
- Access to the Helpline and therapists, as well as Trauma Therapy and Justice System Advocacy.
- Canopy Child Advocacy Center program.
