Date & Time
December 11, 2016 | 3-5 PM
An Event Less Ordinary is partnering with the Long Room to collect donations for Connections for Abused Women and their Children. With your help, we can make the Holiday Season a great one for many women and children affected by domestic violence, and we hope to see you all on December 11th!
Please stop by the Long Room on Sunday, December 11th from 3pm to 5pm to drop off donations from their Holiday Wishlist, below.
The Long Room will also be donating a percentage of the profits, so please stop by for a drink or two if you don’t have a physical item!
If you can’t make it to the drive itself or aren’t in the area but would still like to donate items or make a monetary donation, please contact Carolyn Johnson at carolyn.faith@gmail.com to arrange for drop off or pick up! Please make checks payable to CAWC.
Connections for Abused Women and their Children, formerly Chicago Abused Women Coalition, is committed to ending domestic violence. Using a self-help, empowerment approach, they provide a shelter for women and children, and counseling, advocacy, and a 24-hour hotline for people affected by domestic violence. They work for social change through education, service collaboration and institutional advocacy.
For those that have never experienced domestic violence, it is difficult to imagine what the Holiday Season is like for individuals who are victims. A time of year for celebrating family and unconditional love for mankind can become a dreaded season filled with fear and hopelessness for many. With your help, we can make this holiday season into one of great hope for these individuals. Scroll down to read one of the many stories of newfound hope.
To learn more, please visit http://www.cawc.org/
If you are willing, please share this event with all of your friends and family! With your generosity, we can give these individuals and their families a wonderful holiday! Thank you for your consideration, and we wish you the happiest of Holidays and a prosperous New Year!
WISH LIST
**new or unused items only please!**
Children and Teens:
Board games
Kid movies (nonviolent)
Basketball, football, soccer balls
Lego sets
Educational workbooks
Toiletries:
Body wash
Shampoo and conditioner
Hand sanitizer
Deodorant (men/women)
Hair products
Laundry detergent
Household items:
Pillows
Blankets
Sheets (twin size)
Outlet covers
Blue-ray DVD player
Blender
Industrial coffee maker
Kitchen knives
Underwear/undergarments:
Thermal underpants and shirts (women and children)
Socks (women and children)
Underwear (women and children)
Winter Gear:
Hats, gloves, and scarves
Fleece sweaters (all sizes)
Baby:
Diapers up to size 6
Baby wipes & baby wash
Training cups
Baby bottles (No BPA)
Art Supplies:
Craft sets
Paint and paint brushes
Jewelry-making sets
Sewing kits
Self-Care:
Makeup kits
Nail polish & manicure sets
Beauty gift sets
Body spray and perfumes
Planners/agendas
Movie passes
Gift cards
Reading material related to self-care, meditation, etc. (in both Spanish & English)
Essential oils (Rosemary, Lavender, Neroli, Marjoram, Ylang-Ylang, Chamomile, Clary Sage, Carrier)
Yoga mats (new)
Journals (women and children)
Slippers (women and children)
Transit Cards
***
One of many examples of this newfound hope is Nancy and her children. She and her 17-year old daughter and 12-year old son arrived at CAWC’s Greenhouse Shelter accompanied by a DCFS investigator and police detectives. The daughter’s high school contacted police after she made a plea for help to a teacher. For the last 10 years Nancy’s daughter was repeatedly raped by her stepfather, who is a member of a notorious crime syndicate. Her brother and mother endured severe beatings by this man on a daily basis. The three of them were regularly threatened with death if they were to speak of the abuse to anyone.
Nancy and her children were welcomed by Greenhouse Shelter staff and volunteers. Their abuser was put in jail, but released only 10 days later. Nancy’s CAWC counselor contacted the State’s Attorney to investigate the abuser’s release and demand he return to jail. Only a few weeks later, the abuser was returned to jail without bond. The CAWC counselor was able to provide legal advocacy and secure an order of protection. Nancy and her children received life-changing help during their stay at CAWC’s Greenhouse Shelter. Beside a safe and secure place to stay, nutritious food and a family environment, Nancy and her kids received emotional support and counseling, legal, educational and medical advocacy, training in safety planning and practice, information about their legal rights and options, IDVA and crime victim compensation information, long-term housing assistance, and access to many other resources.
Today, Nancy, her daughter and her son live in their own apartment. Nancy has an order of protection, and with legal representation is proceeding with the criminal case against her abuser. Nancy and her children continue to receive individual and group counseling, as well as therapy services from CAWC. Nancy’s daughter graduated from high school and is attending college with a full scholarship. This Holiday Season may be the best one that Nancy and her kids have ever had!