09/20/11 The Heminger House shelter for victims of domestic violence has just observed its third year in operation and is expanding its services to the public.
- Staff has been hired and trained for victims of sexual assault.
- A community outreach position has been created.
- A bi-lingual case worker is being sought
Plymouth native Shannon Samuelson has been hired as an advocate for victims of sexual assault. She and Case Manager Shelly Kovacs completed the Indiana Sexual Assault Core Advocacy Standards training course in July. The women remain on-call 24 hours for emergency calls to advocate for victims of sexual assault.
Ms. Samuelson has also been named as the director for community outreach, meaning she is available now to make group presentations to organizations and classrooms. While most focus is on groups of women, Ms. Samuelson said men and children can also be victims of domestic violence. Her outreach presentations can be arranged by calling the shelter at (574) 936-7233.
The shelter is seeking to hire an employee who is fluent in English and Spanish. The part-time position may expand to full-time. Interested women should call the shelter at (574) 936-SAFE (7233).
The Heminger House receives partial funding for salaries from the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute, and from United Way of Marshall County, but financial support from the community is needed for a required 25 percent match. Only one letter per year is sent to solicit donations from private individuals. If you would like to make an annual donation, you may contact the shelter or send a donation to P.O. Box 4, Plymouth, IN, 46563. All donations are tax-deductible.
Donations of items can also be dropped off at the shelter but appointments are required by calling (574) 936-7233. Because of storage concerns, donations of clothing should be taken to the Marshall County Neighborhood Center at 402 West Garro St., Plymouth.
The shelter is always in need of
- Fresh food products (meats, milk, fresh vegetables, bread, eggs, butter, etc.)
- Cleaning supplies (bleach, dishwasher soap, spray disinfectants and cleaners, scouring powder, etc.)
- Paper products such as paper towels, tissues, and toilet paper, napkins
- Feminine hygiene products
- Shaving gel and shavers
- Personal hygiene items, including deodorant, body lotion, hair styling products and brushes, etc.
- Over-the counter medication and health care supplies, such as bandages, peroxide, first aid cream, sun-block lotion, non-aspirin and ibuprofen, anti-histamines, cold medicines
- Children’s after-school snacks
- Holiday and birthday gifts for children and women
- New, unopened packages of all sizes of undergarments for females and males of all ages.
- Gift cards so that new shoes, diapers, and emergency items can be purchased as specifically needed
- An operable sewing machine and sewing supplies
- Gift cards for grocery stores are also greatly appreciated
- Light bulbs
- Trash bags in 39-gallon size
- Coupons for cents-off groceries and other household product
Products that are prohibited at the shelter are alcohol-based liquids (mouthwash, cold medicine, rubbing alcohol, perfumes) and medication containing Pseudo ephedrine or other narcotics.
The shelter is also in need of reliable volunteers who can offer services such as child care, answering telephones, tutoring, lawn and exterior work, cooking lessons, grant writing and research, and household maintenance.
Heminger House would also appreciate a volunteer to teach about “extreme couponing” and shopping, so that clients can develop and maintain cost-saving budgets. Ideally, a person who does participate in “extreme couponing” would choose to donate bulk purchases to Heminger House. The donation is tax-deductible.
September marks the third year of operation for the Heminger House Shelter Domestic Violence Shelter for Women and Children. The official opening date was Sept. 11, 2008. It is a partner member of the Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
Submitted by Linda Mullen Clevenger
