Annual Report - General Federation of Women's Clubs

Domestic Violence AwarenessYear in ReviewThe GFWC Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention Project promotes advocacy, education, and action toincrease understanding about, awareness of, and involvement in programs that decrease domestic violenceand provide support and encouragement to domestic violence survivors in local communities and around theworld. Below are several examples of domestic violence projects led by GFWC clubs.GFWC Alabama covered the issue of domestic violence top tobottom by ensuring victims fleeing domestic violence situationshad clothes and supplies to transition into their new lives. Oneclub sponsored a project called “Cover Our Bottoms.” Sincemany children coming into shelters must leave their homes ina hurry, they often only have the clothes on their backs. Over3,200 pieces of underwear were collected during this project andthey were sorted and distributed to places that housed abusedwomen and children. In addition, clothing, cell phones, giftcards, household cleaning products, toys, and feminine hygieneproducts were donated to local sheltersand second hand stores, which serveto meet the needs of domestic violencesurvivors.GFWC Buckeye Woman’s Club(Arizona) worked towards a noblegoal of opening a domestic violenceshelter in its city. Several members on a committee put togetherfundraisers in order to accomplish this goal. They helped at aCasino Night that raised over $4,000 for the shelter. They alsosponsored a golf tournament at which they sold hot dogs to thegolfers. With all the hard work at fundraising, the members wereable to supply furniture for the interview room and the children’splayroom. The club members are happy to report that the shelteris up and running and serves Avondale, Goodyear, and their owncity, Buckeye.GFWC Florida instituted two special projects dedicated toraising awareness and volunteering for domestic violence. Thefirst project transported 115 members to Tallahassee, so theycould talk to their representatives and senators about domesticviolence and child advocacy concerns. The women wore allpurple, which advertised to the public their dedication to endingdomestic violence and gave them a chance to start conversationswith others about why they were there. The second project was astatewide initiative called “X Out Domestic Violence−Gimme X(ten).” This project gave club members the opportunity to eithergive 10 hours of community service or $10 to a local domesticviolence shelter. This project encouraged participation fromclubs statewide and gave a way for all women to be involved inthe fight to end domestic violence.GFWC Montana addressed domestic violence by becomingproactive and aiding communities that do not have resources toDomestic Violence Awareness by theNumbersDollars Donated $732,589Hours Volunteered 66,947Projects Completed 3,900combat domestic violence. Smaller clubs around Montana traveledconsiderable distances to ensure that the rural communitiesaround them had resources to address domestic violence issues.They delivered supplies and support to safety houses and rescuemissions. In addition, one club joined other organizations in2008, to communicate the domestic violence message. One clubmember is on the board of an area domestic violence task force,which coordinates community resources, program development,and education of service providers and the general public. Eachyear the task force puts on a two-day McGuire Conference onFamily Violence with nationally knownspeakers. The club participated inthis conference by facilitating theattendance of its domestic violencechairman plus three elementary schoolcounselors who committed to sharinginformation with their school staff.GFWC Bristol County Women’s Club (Rhode Island)planted and dedicated a memorial garden in tribute to those whohave lost their lives to domestic violence. This brought awarenessto how serious and dangerous domestic violence threats arefor women in these violent situations. With help from thecommunity-at-large and a GFWC grant, the club members wereable to plant two butterfly bushes, which symbolize freedom, andto purchase a bench and other flowers. At the dedication of thesesymbolic plants, the president of the GFWC Bristol Women’sClub was presented with a resolution from a state senator. Theclub also went above and beyond and sold 200 domestic violenceawareness bracelets at its meetings.The GFWC Douglas Civic Club (Wyoming) broughtdomestic violence awareness into its organization by attendingThe Converse County Coalition Against Family Violence andSexual assault meetings every month. Several members attendthe Coalition meetings and then relay the information to therest of the club members. They not only educate on the dangersof domestic violence, but they also share information on theneeds of local shelters so that the rest of the club members cangive to this cause. The club donates money to a local shelter,which serves the needs of victims of domestic violence who areworking to better their lives. This money helps provide clothesand household items for women who have to flee their situationquickly and are left with nothing.10 2009-2010 GFWC ANNUAL REPORT