Giving the Gift of Happy Holiday Memories to Survivors of Domestic Violence
UTICA, N.Y. (Nov. 9, 2021) – YWCA Mohawk Valley (YWCA MV) is seeking gift givers for the holiday season who wish to participate in the agency’s Adopt-A-Family program.
Each year, YWCA MV serves hundreds of individuals and families as they escape violence at home. More often than not, survivors arrive at shelter with nothing more than the clothes on their backs. As they find themselves separated from loved ones, the approaching holiday season can feel overwhelming and disheartening.
Through the generosity of the community, Adopt-A-Family gives happy memories and holiday gifts to survivors and their families as they escape domestic violence. This residential program at YWCA MV provides gifts to clients in the agency’s emergency shelters and transitional housing programs, as well as to children served by the Herkimer County Child Advocacy Center.
“We work year-round to ensure that our clients feel safe, content, and cared for,” says YWCA MV Development Director Kayla Hartman. “That includes during the holidays, which makes Adopt-A-Family a vital part of our mission.”
To ensure safety and confidentiality for the clients, YWCA MV anonymously assigns families to participating givers and schedules gift drop-off appointments at their administrative office.
This holiday, help bring joy to someone who needs it. YWCA MV’s Adopt-A-Family application is available now. Visit www.ywcamv.org/Adopt to download the form. Deadline to apply is Monday, November 15. For more information, contact Kayla at 315.732.2159 ext. 235 or events@ywcamv.org.
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About YWCA Mohawk Valley
YWCA Mohawk Valley is a nonsectarian organization engaged in the mission of eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all. In 2020, YWCA MV provided more than 44,000 instances of service to individuals in Herkimer and Oneida Counties via such programs as domestic and sexual violence crisis services, violence prevention education, residential services for homeless women and children, and emergency shelters and transitional housing for individuals escaping violence. YWCA MV offers free and confidential help 24/7. In Oneida County, call or text 315.797.7740 for domestic and sexual violence crisis services. In Herkimer County, call 315.866.4120 for child advocacy and sexual violence crisis services. Visit ywcamv.org/Chat anytime to directly reach an advocate through a private chat server. More information about YWCA MV can be found by visiting ywcamv.org or by contacting Allison Flanagan at aflanagan@ywcamv.org or 315.732.2159 ext. 245.
YWCA MV receives funding support from the United Way of the Mohawk Valley, Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties, Inc., and The Women’s Fund of Herkimer and Oneida Counties, Inc.