Virtual All Against Abuse Gala

What could be more fun and help a family forget its troubles for one night than an outing of pizza and bowling. Our families are often in crisis mode. All their energy is focused on simply surviving. A $100 gift provides a family with a well-deserved night out away from their troubles, enjoying a slice, a game and many smiles.

The Retreat's Stephanie House Shelter provides housing for up to 18 individuals at a time. Each of our adult residents, on a rotating basis, is responsible for making dinner and cleaning the kitchen. Every one of us appreciates a night of no cooking or cleaning.  Your gift of $150 will provide a much appreciated take-out dinner for the residents.

Children arriving at the Stephanie House Shelter are scared and confused. They are in a new place with new people and don’t have any of their favorite items from home. For a gift of $35, you can provide comfort to a child entering the shelter. A child’s welcome kit includes a soft blanket, stuffed animal, and an age-appropriate book. And each gift is a warm welcome during a turbulent time.

Adults often come to the shelter with only the clothes on their backs. They are each welcomed with a kit that includes full sized toiletries, new pajamas, socks and underwear. There is also something comforting and relaxing like a cozy throw blanket or an adult coloring book. Your donation of $75 provides a welcome kit for one individual.

What is better and more welcoming than a clean set of sheets and towels. Each new family at the Stephanie House Shelter is given these necessities for their room. When they leave the shelter, they take their sheets and towels with them. A $50 donation helps maintain a supply of these valued items for all clients.

Every family that leaves the Stephanie House shelter is starting over. Your gift of $250 can help them do just that. Each family is unique and we work hard to make sure they receive what they need. This may be a set of dishes and kitchen utensils, a kitchen table and chairs, mattresses for the family, pots and pans, or gift cards to local stores. With your help, they will make their new residence into a home.

Kids look forward to summer. Many have activities like beach trips, sports or camp.  But, survivors have little spare money for special activities for their children during the summer months.   Your gift of $500 will help a survivor's child attend camp and experience the childhood pleasures of summer everyone deserves.

Art plays an important part in healing. Our counselors and shelter staff use art with our residents, both children and adults to aid in the healing process. A $750 donation provides art supplies such as paints, brushes, canvases, and paper for The Retreat's art therapy program for the year.

In 2019 The Retreat was able to add a full-time attorney to its staff for the first time, providing clients with in-office legal help with issues such as child custody and divorce. Your gift of $1,000 allows The Retreat to provide legal services to one client.

Children who live in abusive homes may not be physically harmed themselves but regularly see or hear abusive behavior between family members.

Witnessing abuse can increase a child's risk for health issues including depression, anxiety, anger, and poor social relationships.

When you become a Hope Maker with a donation of $2,500, you are providing 12 weeks of counseling to a child who has witnessed abuse in their home.

Counseling provides emotional support for these children while giving them the skills to become resilient individuals with the ability to have healthy relationships.

A Peace Maker gift provides trained legal advocates for five clients for six months. Your generosity allows The Retreat's trained professionals to support survivors of domestic violence in understanding their rights in seeking and receiving needed court orders of protection and/or child custody.