JULY 2022 NEWSLETTER

Program Spotlight: Court Advocacy

When experiencing trauma, the court systems can be intimidating, overwhelming, and complicated to understand. Nobody should have to face it alone. 

Our team includes one court advocate whose primary duties include helping clients to navigate the legal system, assist with filing an Order of Protection, connect with legal representation, and accompany clients to court. We also have a Rural Advocate in Madison County who provides court advocacy services to individuals from that area. In addition, all of our team receives training on court advocacy-related roles so anyone can step in and help. 

It is so rewarding to watch clients gain their confidence and sense of self. Facing an abusive partner in court can be incredibly intimidating and many people are afraid to see or be near their abuser in a courthouse, much less face them in the courtroom. However, when a client is well-prepared to take the stand and give their testimony, they take back power and gain a sense of control in their life again. 

You can get involved! Interested in supporting the NWAWS Court Advocacy program? Email Amber ››

Are you looking for legal support after experiencing abuse or sexual assault? Reach out on our confidential hotline 24/7 at 479-246-9999.

July 30th is World Day Against Trafficking in Persons

The UN’s focus for this year’s observance is the role technology plays in the forced displacement of people. Technology and the use of smartphones have taken the world by storm in the past decade. The benefit of this technology is its ability to keep us connected to the ones we love. However, technology can also be a harmful force that people use to keep people from the ones they love and exploit them for labor or sexual abuse.  

As you and I are well aware, the COVID-19 pandemic has shifted many of life’s day-to-day functions to online platforms. People searching for connections can be met with the risk of being trafficked. Human traffickers prey on men, women, and children in person and online. According to the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime, “Traffickers use social media to identify, groom and recruit victims, including children; e-mails and messaging services are used for the moral coercion of the victims; and online platforms allow traffickers to widely advertise services provided by victims, including child photographic material.” Using technology in this way allows perpetrators to make their services quicker and harder to track. Thankfully, there are ways to combat these crimes using the same technology. Law enforcement, court investigators, and organizations can utilize technology to track and fight back against the trafficking of persons. An example of this is PhotoDNA. Microsoft uses this software to scan photos uploaded to their sites and match them against a set of known child sex abuse/online marketplace in an attempt to locate victims and report perpetrators to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (Polaris Project). 

What can you do to take steps toward safe social media use for you and your family members? One thing you can do is promote awareness regarding the risks of trafficking that are associated with social media usage. You can also limit the amount of personal information (birth date, full name, and address, for example) or any other key identifiers present on your profile. Taking this step can serve in protecting you from identity theft as well. For more information on how to promote a safe online environment for yourself and for individuals at risk for trafficking, check out WomensLaw.org or the United Nations ››  

Are you or a loved one in an unsafe situation? Call our 24/7 Crisis Hotline at 479-246-9999.

Making a Difference

Answers to the question, How do you feel differently today than when you first arrived in shelter?

“I feel amazing. Much More confident.“
“Safe. Protected.”

“I feel safe and blessed.”

“Hopeful.”

“Independent.”

Ready.”

-NWAWS Clients

Rehousing Program Update: New Case Manager

In just a few short weeks, Elaine has already jumped into her role and is making a huge impact for families taking the next step toward independence: new housing. She comes to NWAWS with prior experience in both domestic abuse and housing services and is excited to be uniting those passions into her role.

For DV survivors, the journey to independence can be long and arduous. The program’s goal is to provide up to 6 months of financial assistance and 1 year of case management to survivors, keeping in mind that it takes a long time for things to fall out of place when they leave an abusive situation. Elaine explains, “The healing journey for our clients doesn’t stop when they walk out the door.”

Right now, Elaine spends about half of her time helping NWAWS clients navigate housing options and working with Rehousing Program clients on achieving long-term independence and sustainability. The other half of her time is spent developing the program, setting up metrics, and working with the greater team on a larger vision for the future of the rehousing program. Her favorite parts of her job: the clients and the NWAWS team. 

Elaine considers herself to be a creative person and is involved in the arts and comedy scene in NWA. She loves putting her creative side to work solving problems for NWAWS clients and being a part of some really awesome successes.

Your support of NWAWS allows team members like Elaine make a huge difference in the lives of survivors of abuse. Thank you for your support of programs like this!

Save the Date: Fresh StART, Monte Carlo Style!

Over the last two years, we have twisted and turned in order to best serve our clients. In all the pivots you all stuck with us – you stepped up and helped us care for our clients. So after two years of party boxes and live-streamed soirees, we are coming back LIVE and IN-PERSON to celebrate the courage of our clients and the generosity of our community with FreshStART 2022 – a Monte Carlo themed casino night on October 22!

Join celebrity host Dan Skoff, and honorary chairpersons Jason Fremstad & Seth Malley for a night of charity gaming, great food, drinks, music, and FUN! 

For more information and to buy tickets, please visit click here ››

We hope you can join us for our 2022 signature event!

Interested in sponsorship opportunities? Email our Development Director Stacy at stacy@nwaws.org.  

Thrift Store News

Thank you to everyone who shopped at the Tent Sale earlier this month! Here are some more deals and deal days to add to your calendar: 

• Christmas in July sale continues through July 31st and includes 50% off on all Christmas items.
• We have a huge inventory of new and like-new boxed high heels, wedges, etc. Women’s sizes 7-8 only. All of these are 50% off. 
• August 17 is National Thrift Shop Day
• August 25 is Secondhand Wardrobe Day

Watch our Facebook and Instagram pages for updates and come shop for a cause!

Get Connected!

It is not too late for you to participate in the Walton Personal Philanthropy Group matching gift campaign. Individual gifts made via any method count toward our goal of $133,500 which allows you to double your impact on the families seeking support from NWAWS.

We’re currently nearly halfway there!

Would you help us reach our goal by the end of 2022?

Make a gift online today or contact Stacy to discuss other giving options. 

So Far This Year…

You have helped make a difference in your community! Here is how your support has impacted the world around you:

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JUNE 2022 NEWSLETTER

Program Spotlight: Outreach/Non-residential Services

Even though our name is the “Northwest Arkansas Women’s Shelter”, we hope you know that we do more than just provide safe shelter to families. In fact, one of the most popular service arms are outreach services for those who formerly lived in shelter or who never needed shelter, but are looking for support after leaving an abusive relationship. 

Though some services are different, outreach clients are eligible to receive many of the same types of assistance from NWAWS as residential clients. From court advocacy & accompaniment to counseling, case management, and financial assistance (and so much more), there are a variety of ways for a survivor to get support for their unique needs. While most services are provided from NWAWS’ offices in Benton County, our outreach office located in Huntsville provides services to residents of Carroll and Madison Counties as well. As with everything we do, all services are tailored directly to each client’s situation. 

Could you use some support? Call the hotline at 479-246-9999 to speak with an advocate about your options for outreach support. 

Think you might want to join the NWAWS team? We are currently looking for someone to join our team as an Outreach & Intake Advocate. Email your resume and a cover letter to Rachael and Tawnya. 

Promoting Healthy Families in July

Did you have anything difficult happen between the ages of 1 and 17? Of course you did! These events shaped you into the person that you are today regardless of how difficult they may have been to endure. Some very difficult life events you may have endured as a child are called Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE). ACEs are grouped into a few categories: physical and emotional abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction. Domestic abuse, sexual assault, parental separation/divorce, food insecurity, and poverty, are just a few examples.  

Kids who grow up experiencing these types of stressors in their day-to-day lives develop what has been called “toxic stress”. Certain types of stress can be helpful to you, but toxic stress causes your body to remain in a state of stress even when you don’t need to be. This type of stress can cause you to lean on unhealthy habits (such as overeating, smoking, misuse of alcohol and/or drugs) and cause problems later in life.

You can’t protect your kids from everything hard in life, but there are ways that you can protect them from the harmful results of these ACEs. One way is by spending time with your child! By being a consistent person in your child’s life, you can show them that they are loved and have someone they can rely on. Talk with them about your childhood and any ACEs you may have experienced, and teach them how to respond when they are upset. This builds resiliency and will help your kids to be able to fight back against these ACEs. For more information about how you can help protect your kids from the tough stuff that happens in life, click on the links below!  

AR Department of Health: Protecting kids from toxic stress ››

CDC: Risk & protective factors ››

Video: 10 Ways to Build and Develop Resilience ››

Making a Difference

“I feel my advocate is doing a great job helping my family get on our own feet. All the advocates work so hard and really care about my family and people here at the shelter. I feel safe and cared for and respected and supported.
Thank you!“

-NWAWS Client

When You Think About the Word “Abuse”…

When you hear the term “domestic abuse”, what first comes to mind? Many of us first think of bruises and marks that come with a physical altercation. Maybe you also thought about financial control and emotional abuse that survivors so often report facing in their homes. 

Often, we forget that spiritual abuse, or religious abuse, can be a part of the power & control dynamics in an abusive relationship—whether a romantic relationship, between family members, or between others in a household.

Read Kathy’s (an NWAWS client) story about spiritual abuse and learn more about how the faith community can stand up against spiritual abuse here ››

Meet our Summer Development & Thrift Store Intern

Hi, I’m Triniti!

I am a Senior majoring in Spanish and Family & Human Services major at John Brown University. I am passionate about helping others and the thrill of a good thrift haul! My main role here at NWAWS is to continue to integrate the mission of the organization with our work at the Thrift Store. Over the past three weeks, I have been working alongside the BEST group of hardworking women (and our manager Travis, of course) to plan our third annual tent sale on July 16th! During my time here I hope to get the word out about our thrift store to other people in NWA and emphasize the importance of supporting the store in order to further the support we extend to the community.

Thanks to Tyson Foods and United Way NWA for sponsoring this internship. We are grateful for your partnership. 

Thrift Store News

You are invited to the THIRD annual tent sale at the NWAWS Thrift Store on July 16th from 9am-5pm. We have a ton of brand-new clothing (with original tags!), huge discounts on name brand clothing, and various food trucks who will be serving delicious food during the event!

There will be raffles all day and if you are one of the first 20 people to show up, you will receive a 50% off coupon to use on anything at any point during the sale. Show up, shop, and show out to continue to support the shelter!

Get Connected!

Do you work for Walmart? If so, there is a 2:1 matching gift opportunity available until July 6th. Visit OneWalmart and search for NWAWS to make your gift today.

Don’t work for Walmart? There is still a 1:1 match opportunity available to you through the Walton Personal Philanthropy Group. Visit nwaws.org to make your donation.

Another way to support NWAWS is to volunteer! We always need help at our Thrift Store or at the shelter. Visit nwaws.org/volunteer to learn more or sign up for a volunteer shift.

So Far This Year…

You have helped make a difference in your community! Here is how your support has impacted the world around you:

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MAY 2022 NEWSLETTER

Program Spotlight: Emergency Shelter

Imagine leaving your home and nearly all of your belongings behind today in order to move somewhere else without even knowing what it looks like. That is exactly what our clients bravely do each time they make the decision to stay at the NWAWS.

From the first hotline call to the time when residents move out, our team seeks to validate, support, and encourage our those who reach out during their time of need. It is not glamorous to stay in shelter; however, for the first time in a long time, the families who stay with us can sleep in peace and rest knowing they are safe.

Since most families do not bring very many belongings with them initially, we provide all of their essentials: toiletries, bedding, towels, food, cookware, underwear, socks, pajamas, and even clothing. Residential clients also receive case management and support from their Advocate, the ability to explore their legal options and help filing Orders of Protection or contacting the police, counseling services from our therapist, financial assistance, transportation assistance, and many other services designed to meet their individual needs. Each family or individual comes from their own unique situation with their own unique needs. Consequently, our team takes a tailored approach to offering help and resources to each person who stays with us.

All of this is offered at no cost to anyone who reaches out for help thanks to the generous support of partners like you. Thank you for what you do to serve residents at NWAWS by donating items we need, volunteering your time, and sharing your financial gifts. 

Upcoming: June is PRIDE Month

A widely accepted myth in society is that domestic violence does not occur as much in LGBTQ+ relationships, however this is completely false.  Domestic violence actually occurs at similar or higher rates in the LGBTQ+ population than in the general population (source).  According to data compiled by the NCADV, 61% of bisexual women, 44% of lesbian women, 37% of bisexual men, and 26% of gay men have experienced some form of intimate partner violence in their lifetime.  

A sad reality within the Mid- and Deep-South is the occurrence of domestic violence within family units, such as from a mother or father towards an LGBTQ+ son or daughter who has just come out.  Cultural and religious beliefs can leave victims feeling excluded, alone, and prone to suicide.  Lack of understanding and education about the LGBTQ+ community lead to bias and domestic violence.  

There is a percentage of closeted LGBTQ+ population in Arkansas who are afraid of discrimination and persecution if others know about their sexual orientation.  As an LGBTQIA+ Advocate, it is very gratifying to be able to show survivors of domestic violence that there are resources, counseling, support groups, businesses and people within the community who love and support them for who they are, and their efforts to live their lives free from domestic violence.

Looking for support? Email Jeremy, our LGBTQ+ Advocate ››

For more information on the history of Pride Month, click here ››

Making a Difference

One of the biggest wins our clients experience is feeling empowered to take control of their own lives instead of being controlled by someone else. Recently, an NWAWS client shared the following about their shelter stay,

“I felt like I was independent. I could do things on my own without someone to tell me what to do [constantly]. I was able to socialize and see other people. I was able to take care of important work that needed to be done because I knew what I was doing.
“

Follow, Like, & Share Giveaway!

During the month of June, you have the opportunity to follow, like, and share content on our social media channels for a chance to win a Rocketbook, NWAWS stickers, and fun treats you are sure to enjoy from some of our partners, including tickets to ZZ Top, Willie Nelson & Brothers Osborne, and Maverick City Music at the AMP—woohoo!

Each like and share on a labeled *GIVEAWAY* post will win you one entry into the drawing. Only entries that also follow @nwaws or @nwawsthriftstore are eligible to win. 

Get a head start by following us today on these social channels so you see the giveaway posts when they pop up: 

• @nwaws on Instagram
• @nwaws on Facebook

• @nwawsthriftstore on Instagram

• @nwawsthriftstore on Facebook

Matching Gift Opportunity

We have long been appreciative of the generosity of the NWA community. Throughout the years, when our organization has faced obstacles and challenges our neighbors have stepped up to support us, allowing us to continue the life-saving work that has happened here for more than 35 years. When we were notified of a very significant cut to our largest grant last fall, our community stepped up once again.

Our friends at the Walton Personal Philanthropy Group have offered us a Matching Gift Grant to help make up the difference for this year. Beginning March 1, 2022 and going through Feb 28 2023, the WPPG will match every personal donation made to the NWAWS (not to exceed $133,000). 

So, every dollar you give this year as a personal donation will become two dollars to help us serve survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.

Thank you for your continued generosity and partnership in breaking the cycle of domestic violence here in NWA!

Give here ››

Thrift Store News

Have you seen our re-usable shopping bags? With a minimum $5 donation at the register, you will receive an NWAWS re-usable shopping bag you can use every time you shop. The best part? Each time you bring your re-usable shopping bag in, you save 20% off your purchase. Tell all your thrifty friends!

Also, don’t forget to join us for our Memorial Day Sale on May 27th & 28th. Doors will be open from 9am-5pm for you to shop all of the deals. 

Get Connected!

The NWAWS Thrift Store is in need of pre-loved clothing!
You never know when the items you donate will be purchased by an NWAWS client at no cost to them or if a member of community will purchase it with the proceeds benefitting NWAWS programs. Either way, it’s a win. 

Drop off your items Monday-Saturday between 10am-4pm behind the store at 1622 S. 8th St. Rogers, AR. 

Follow @nwawsthriftstore on Facebook or @nwawsthriftstore on Instagram

So Far This Year…

You have helped make a difference in your community! Here is how your support has impacted the world around you:

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Making a Difference

“[NWAWS] helped me have the strength to believe in myself. The staff has been very positive and uplifting. Create a uplifting environment to where you feel as though you can live again and take back control of a life that seems to been (sic) taken from oneself. I appreciate this program and all that it does.“

– NWAWS Client

Volunteers, We Appreciate You!

We are so grateful for the contributions volunteers bring to our organization every day. If you have ever volunteered your time, whether by working a shift at our thrift store, serving on a committee, helping at an event, or assisting clients in shelter, your gift of time matters for us. Thanks for all you have done and continue to do!

Are you looking for a new opportunity to give back? We have openings for shelter volunteers (requires 10+ hours of training and a commitment to a regular schedule) and at our thrift store. Learn more ››

Prefer to plan events? Reach out to Stacy to help plan our fundraisers. 

Thank You for Your Support!

Stephen Covey said “If there’s one thing certain in business, it’s uncertainty.” 

He was ALMOST right – with most things there is uncertainty, and, like our clients, we face it with resolute courage. But there is ONE thing we are most certain of and that is the faithful generosity of our donors and volunteers.

As you may already know, last year we were notified of a substantial cut to our largest funding source and since then our donors have helped bridge the gap!  So far in 2021, the generosity of NWA has showed up, especially on NWA Gives Day. In partnership with the Walton Personal Philanthropy Group’s matching gift grant, we received over $13,000 on one day!

Thank you so very much for your continued support. We are humbled by the trust you show in us with your gifts and we will continue to work hard caring for survivors here in Northwest Arkansas! 

Want to make a gift? Give here ››

Thrift Store News

We are so grateful for the generous donations you bring to our Thrift Store! The NWAWS Thrift Store has recently expanded our donation hours, now accepting donations Monday-Saturday from 10am-4pm. We want to be sure you know the best and most efficient ways to make a donation to our Thrift Store:

1. We are able to accept almost any new or gently used items that can be sold. The exception is used mattresses, large box TVs, expired items (like car seats), and opened chemicals (i.e., paint, bleach, cleaner, etc.)
2. Please be sure to drop donations during the stated donation hours only. If they are left outside they are subject to the weather and being stolen.

In addition, each year our clients benefit from shopping on a voucher system to obtain what they need, and the proceeds from the items you donate provide a significant source of revenue to help pay for the programs we offer survivors.

Make plans to join us for our Memorial Day Sale on May 27th & 28th. We will have lots of deals and it will be the perfect time to snag something fresh for summer. Stay tuned to Facebook and Instagram for more details.

Get Connected!

Do you follow us on social media? Our social networks are the best way for you to stay up-to-date on the latest events and ways to support NWAWS! Follow us on:

@nwaws Facebook
@nwaws Instagram

@nwawsthriftstore Facebook

@nwawsthriftstore Instagram

@nwaws LinkedIn

@nwaws Twitter

So Far This Year…

You have helped make a difference in your community! Here is how your support has impacted the world around you:

Our Contact Information
*{{Organization Name}}*
*{{Organization Address}}*
*{{Organization Phone}}*
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*{{Unsubscribe}}*