November is Family Violence Prevention Month

Friends of Rowan House Newsletter 2nd Edition November 2010

November is Family Violence Prevention Month!

November has been designated as Family Violence Prevention Month. It is an important time for us at Rowan House. Although we think about family violence prevention every month of the year, November is a month to remind the community that domestic violence is everyone’s issue and family violence prevention needs to start with each of us standing up and saying it is wrong. From April 2009 to March 2010, Alberta Domestic Violence Shelters accommodated 6,169 women and 5,601 children. During this same time period, shelters turned away 9,934 women and 6,342 children. "Although the numbers are similar to those from last year, we’ve found that this year – there are more children in shelter with their mothers," says Carolyn Goard, Director of Member Programs and Services at ACWS. "We continue to be horrified by the sheer volume of women and children fleeing violence in their homes in one of the richest provinces in Canada."

Did you know… Families and community members can play a key role in preventing family violence and supporting those affected. Victims of family violence usually turn first to those they trust. This is usually extended family, friends, neighbours, co-workers or spiritual leaders.

Events and Fundraisers

• The Sex and the City Fundraiser at Carlson’s on Macleod on August 26th raised $18,500!
• River City Classics Car Club Show and Shine was on September 26
• The Foothills Women’s Show on October 29. Thank you to our volunteers for their hard work and to the members of the community who stopped by to show their support.

Here’s what we can look forward to this month!

• The Blackie Breakfast goes November 6 at 8am at the Blackie Community Hall. The cost is $5.00 and proceeds go to Rowan House!

• The High River Boston Pizza is holding its 3rd Annual Spaghetti Eating contest on November 7th. You can stop by 1508 13 Ave SE or give them a call at 403-601-2030 to fill out an entry form. We hope to see you there!


* Please note that the final amount from the Okotoks Rotary Club’s golf tournament, held back in July, was $25,000 from the club plus a $1500 cheque from the Castiglione Family Trust.

Volunteer Corner

Rowan House’s ‘Celebrate our Volunteers’ evening would not have been possible without the generosity of a few local businesses. Donations from Sobeys, Co-Op and The George made the evening a very special event. We also want to thank the Okotoks Health and Wellness Centre for the use of one of their rooms.

Rowan House is always in need of volunteers. If you’re interested in any of the following positions, please contact Gisele at volunteer@rowanhouseonline.org.

• We are looking for volunteers to help with the Rowan House Emergency Shelter Gala that will be held May 14, 2011. Planning is everything and the sooner we start, the quicker things will fall into place.

• We are in need of a Volunteer Donations Coordinator. If you like to organize and impart information we need you!

• We are also in need of a volunteer who enjoys organizing areas and items. As donations come in, we need to have them organized and itemized.

• If you like to drive and meet people in the community this next position just might be for you. We are looking for a volunteer who can pick up donations as they come in.

Shelter News

Branches:

The next community presentation will be on November 3rd at the Okotoks Public Library. It will focus on Healthy Relationships and Dating Violence. 

Presentations will also be made to the St. Luke’s Outreach School, EDPlus in Black Diamond and Foothills Composite High School on Healthy Relationships and Dating Violence in the next month.

If you would like to book a presentation or you would like more information, call Erica at 403-933-3370.

Do you know someone struggling in a relationship? Are you struggling in a relationship? The Healthy Relationship Group for women that have left an abusive relationship or are trying to leave an abusive relationship is currently running Wednesday evenings at the High River Parent Link Centre from 6-8pm. We offer free child care, coffee and snacks! Call 403-933-3370 to register or to get more information.

Even people who don’t have a lot of money find ways to help out Rowan House. Gideon, aged 7, had his friends bring toothbrushes instead of presents to his birthday party and then he donated the toothbrushes to Rowan House to help the women and children in need. 

 
Capital Campaign Update 

The goal is $1.55 million to build the new facility in High River. We have $800,000. We are half way there!
A message from Executive Director Sherrie Botten:

As we push towards our final dollars required to raise the house, we need community support more than ever. We continue to seek out and apply for government grants as they become available, but the final dollars will need to come from individuals and community groups.

Here are just a few ways of how others have helped in the past and how you may want to help now:


- Make a private donation. To find out more about tax credits for donations and gifts vist www.cra-arc.gc.ca.
- Do an office fundraiser. Maybe start a "change" bucket for Rowan House; use your coffee fund as a start.
- Spend your girl’s night at home. Put the money you would have spent towards the new Rowan House building.
- Organize a community breakfast with the "breakfast fee" going to Rowan House.
- Buy a book of Rowan House quilt tickets and give them to a valued colleague.
- Give every woman on your Christmas list a ‘Her Story’ daytimer (see our website for more information on this wonderful seasonal day timer back by popular demand)
- Organize a fundraiser (email ccc@rowanhouseonline.org for information on third party fundraisers)

Or learn more about Rowan House:
 
- Ask Sherrie or Jessica to come to your group and talk about where we are at in our campaign.
- Have Erica, public educator with our Branches program; come out to your group with information on how you can help someone experiencing family violence.

Watch for more ways to help in the next edition.
That’s it for this edition. Join us next month for another exciting look at what’s happening!

In the mean time, you can visit http://www.rowanhouseonline.org/ or call the office at 403-938-6785 for more information. You can also find us on facebook and twitter. And don’t forget to tell your friends and family about Shop and Share at http://www.shopandshare.ca.people/ can select from a wide range of well known, brand name stores, shop online, then have a percentage of the proceeds donated to Rowan. It’s free for you and for Rowan House so create an account today! Healthy Relationship Group for women that have left an abusive relationship or are trying to leave an abusive relationship is currently running Wednesday evenings at the High River Parent Link Centre from 6-8pm. We offer free child care, coffee and snacks! Call 403-933-3370 to register or to get more information.