Council on Families in Crisis marks 15th anniversary

By Martha Sander

Special to the Daily Mail

"The cold, icy rain pelts the outside window. The fear swallows the darkness. The pounding of the heart is louder than the silence. The crystal clear tears become blood red as they run down the cheek. The screaming words echo within the soul. The pain vibrates against the walls. This isn't what I expected when I heard the words, 'I love you.'"

It is estimated that four million women are battered each year in the United States. It is further estimated that between 3 and 10 million children witness domestic violence each year in their homes. Domestic violence is a crime; a silent, raging crime with devastating impact on victims, children, and communities.

Council on Families in Crisis is a local not-for-profit corporation organized in 1986 to assist victims of domestic violence. The mission of Council on Families in Crisis is to provide emergency shelter and supportive services to people victimized by domestic violence and to promote community awareness of domestic violence through education, training, advocacy, and research.

On Saturday, July 9, the agency will celebrate the 15-year anniversary of the opening of Moss House, a 24-hour residential emergency shelter for victims of domestic violence and their children. The shelter opened on July 1, 1990, housing its first family within three hours of opening. Services include emergency shelter, 24-hour toll-free crisis hotline, crisis intervention, case management, children's services, self-sufficiency training, education classes, support groups, information and referrals, and safety planning. The shelter serves an average of 325 women and children each year.

During the last 15 years, we have sheltered more than 1,500 families from the storms of domestic violence. Each day, we continue to open our doors to more women and children. In addition, 32,104 bednights have been provided for these families. (A bednight is a body in a bed. For example, one woman and two children sheltered for one night would be a bednight of three.) The staff has answered 7,743 hotline calls from women seeking help.

Our shelter serves six counties, Vernon, Bates, Barton, Cedar, Dade, and St. Clair, with a total population of 81,000. However, the local facility has sheltered women from 37 counties in Missouri and 10 states. More than 50 agencies in this six-county area provide referrals to this program on a consistent basis.

The agency also operates Loretta's Attic, a thrift store located in Nevada. Loretta's Attic accepts donations of all types and provides free clothing, household items, and furniture to families leaving Moss House for independent living. All extra items that are not needed by families at the shelter or the agency itself are sold to the general public.

Funds raised from the sale of donated items are funneled back to support the operating expenses at Moss House.

Loretta's Attic opened on May 1, 1999, but moved to a new location on Feb. 1. In conjunction with the 15-year anniversary, Loretta's Attic will be hosting a grand opening on Saturday, July 9, at its new location at 605 E. Cherry.

The grand opening and 15-year anniversary event are open to the public. All events will take place at Loretta's Attic.

The events will start at 8 a.m. and last until 2:30 p.m. There will be a huge 25-cent sale in the back parking lot, great sales inside, and free drawings every 30 minutes. KNEM/KNMO will be on-site with a live broadcast from 8 a.m. to noon. In addition, the agency will have an information booth, a snow cone machine, and food.

Volunteers are needed for the event. Anyone who would like to help may call (417) 667-7171. In addition, anyone who needs help with domestic violence or who knows someone who needs help, please call the 24-hour crisis hotline at (800) 398-4271.

Martha Sander is executive director of the Council on Families in Crisis, Nevada.