The blessing in being of service
According to the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, women experience roughly 4.8 million intimate partner- related physical assaults and rapes every year.
According to the Family Violence Prevention Fund, children who experience violence in the home suffer symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder such as bed-wetting or nightmares, and are at greater risk than their peers of having allergies, asthma, gastrointestinal problems, headaches, and flu.
Studies show that access to shelter services leads to a 60-70% reduction in incidence and severity of re-assault during the 3-12 months’ follow up period compared to women who did not access shelter. Shelter services led to greater reduction in severe re-assault than did seeking court or law enforcement protection, or moving to a new location.
(Campbell, JC, PhD, RN, FAAN. Anna D. Wolf, Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, Protective Action and Re-assault: Findings from the RAVE study.)
Nothing like a good stiff drink of REALITY to nudge us back into how blessed we are to have what we have, and how imperative it is to do SOMETHING for someone else!
The subject of domestic violence has always been one to which I’ve been pulled. When I became pregnant, (though I realize how odd this might sound) I knew it was important to expose my children to the reality of battered women and children, and more importantly, involve them in the assistance of women and children with this particular need in any way we can. Kris agreed, and we vowed that when the girls got old enough, we would increase our volunteer efforts to include service to battered women and children. Our resource, SERVE.GOV, an element of President Obama’s United We Serve initiative, offers an easy and super-convenient way for us to create and utilize volunteer opportunities in our local communities. A few weeks ago, I began my search for opportunities to serve women and children not too far from our home, and I found a place called The Padgett House, in Norcross, Georgia.
CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS about their programs and intentions.
Program Director, Mrs. Sharon Lewis, is putting an incredible amount of time, resources, and energy into the opening of this home. A family affair, the renovation of the large duplex is being handled by Mrs. Lewis, along with her mother, aunt, husband, and other family members and friends.
When I found The Padgett House listing on Serve.gov, I sent an email to some friends with whom I’ve done other volunteer projects, as well as my family. The response was as expected; everyone was ready to help. We got together this past Saturday and headed out to Norcross to see how we could help. We were greeted by a gracious staff already engrossed in the large scale landscaping project that included the removal of several small trees and trimming of several bushes, the raking and bagging of what seemed like a zillion piles of leaves. Inside, bathrooms needed cleaning and walls needed painting. There was much to be done.
Our group, which included my always-down-to-help-out crew of United for Jamaica and Prizm Int’l, as well as 8 of my ride-or-die family members, spent the Saturday afternoon following directions and doing as much as we could. The Padgett House staff was courteous, grateful and an absolute joy to work with!! Each time Kris and I volunteer, we are reminded of how necessary it is to do something with our time besides stomp around in my own little world of must-do’s. It’s a nudge in the direction of walking a path that involves more than our circle of friends. It’s all about perspective and service, and this past Saturday provided that for our crew, and I’m sure we also took one small step toward showing our children just how fortunate they are.
I hope you’ll make time to visit Serve.gov and get involved with or start something in your local community today!
