In This Issue:
Annual Ask Progress: We’re almost there!
Sheena Mendoza Memorial Tournament
First survivor and her child placed in new transitional house on Dec. 31st
Car Donated by Mike & Keri Bloom
Annual Ask Progress: We’re almost there!
31,028 thank you’s to the tremendous outpouring of support
Thank you to all of the wonderful donors who have generously replied to our ask with their personal gifts. Thanks to these donors we are ALMOST to our goal of $32,100—which is what we need to make ends meet. We will end our fund drive on 1/31. So there’s still time to send us a check or donate online.
Here’s a note that one of our donors sent in last week that really made our day:
“Thank you for being there for my daughter and I. You helped her through a very critical period. It’s been 5 weeks since she took a firm stand and ended the relationship for the last time. She is taking a day at a time and actively working on her recovery from this destructive relationship. I pray daily for her continued safety.
You are providing a “life saver” for so many.
Happy Holidays
Sincerely Yours,
xxxxx”
This year, due to cuts in funding (read about our financials here, or email me for more information), we asked people to give more to us than they have in the past. And they did. People recognized that demand for our services was increasing, and knew it took more resources to answer this demand, so they increased their gift.
Help us reach our goal—and surpass it! It’s a powerful statement to the survivors we serve that we live in a community that cares.
Please donate today. And track our progress towards our goal on the front page of our website! This appeal is critical to the health and vitality of our services as we help those in need. People like you make possible our free and bilingual shelter services, advocacy, counseling and support groups through 13 experienced staff members and 12 Masters-level social work/counseling interns who provide services to over 10,000 people a year at three different locations across the county to people from all over.
If you have any questions or would like more information please don’t hesitate to contact me, Sarah Keefe, Comm. Outreach/Ed./Development Coordinator at sarahk (at) dvrc-or (dot) org or call 503-640-5352 x 308 or 503-926-3245.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for your support.
***
Sheena Mendoza Memorial Tournament
Edit: Guest Article by Aaron Crawford: Losing One of Our Own
Pool tournament planned in remembrance of Sheena Mendoza, who was murdered by her ex-boyfriend on November 29th at her workplace in Hillsboro
Date: Saturday, February 6th
Time: 11 am, warm up at 10 am
Place: Hot Shots Billiards
4900 SW Western Ave.
Beaverton, OR 97007
Entry Fee (to take part in tournament): $25
Please call the event organizer, Aaron Crawford, at 503-619-6404 to sign up to play or for more information about the Memorial Tournament. There are 64 slots available.
* Silent Auction All Day
* Hair stylists from Great Clips (her former employer) will be there cutting hair for a suggested $20 donation
* Information about domestic violence provided on site
Download the event flyer here and place in your work breakroom, you business’s front window, attach in your organization’s newsletter, etc.
Why organize this tournament? Crawford, friend of Sheena and organizer, said: “in my heart of hearts, I just want people to be aware.”
Sheena was 20 years old when she was shot to death in the breakroom of her workplace, Great Clips, in Hillsboro by her ex-boyfriend Curt Wise. He committed suicide shortly afterwards. Two weeks prior to the murder she had moved back in with her mother. Sheena had come into the Domestic Violence Resource Center’s office the week prior to her murder for her first appointment to get a restraining order.
The Mendoza family had to suffer the death of Sheena’s father in October of 2009. Less than two months later Sheena was murdered. During the investigation, Sheena Mendoza’s family issued a statement through Hillsboro police that they will “honor the memory of the Sheena by working toward and finding solutions, education, and prevention of domestic violence.”
See:
Hillsboro police identify shooter, victim in hair salon killing (Nov. 30th)
Family Mourns Victim In Great Clips Shooting (Dec. 2nd)
Obituary: Sheena Mendoza, 20, service Dec. 5
Domestic violence needs exposure to public’s light (Dec. 4th)
***
First survivor and her child placed in new transitional house on Dec. 31st
Thank you to all who donated to help make this new program possible in time for the new year!
Thanks to the support of the community the Domestic Violence Resource Center now has a transitional housing option in addition to a crisis shelter. In the economic downturn securing affordable housing is often the largest barrier to a person living a self-sufficient and independent life. The transitional home opened its doors for the first time this holiday season, and on Dec. 31st the first client and her child moved in to begin the year-long program.
We’d like to thank the following people who donated furniture to help us put together the new home, donated by Martin & Lori Rausch:
Arden Adams
Cindy Coe
Community Warehouse
Marlene Harmon
Pat & Bob Hunter
Sarah Keefe
Sarah Mati
The Rausch’s
Rebecca Sharp
Also, many thanks to those who offered furniture but due to size and space we were unable to accommodate.
Car Donated by Mike & Keri Bloom
Station wagon in fantastic condition donated for use by Monika’s House Shelter
Thanks to the continued commitment of Keri and Mike Bloom to helping survivors of domestic violence in their community, Monika’s House Shelter now has a station wagon! This will be enormously helpful in picking up and helping to move shelter clients in and out of shelter, as well as picking up larger donations.
Mr. Bloom has donated cars to the Domestic Violence Resource Center in the past, as well. He says it’s always been important to him that he do what he can to help support our shelter and the “important work that you do”.
