Forbes House would like to give a huge “thank you” to Willoughby-Eastlake School of Innovation for providing us with 500 socks for our clients! The “Socktober” drive collected over 5,000 brand new pairs of socks, which were donated to 8 different agencies in Lake County, Ohio to help those in need. Forbes House is very honored to have been a recipient of these socks. Great work, Willoughby-Eastlake School of Innovation and thank you for the amazing donation!!
Recently, United Way of Lake County created an incredibly informative video that recognizes domestic violence and abuse in Lake County, Ohio. This video speaks volumes about the prevalence of abuse and the various resources for survivors. Some agencies in the video include Emergency Management Services of Lake County, Western Reserve Counseling, Forbes House, Tackle Domestic Violence, Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Painesville and Willoughby Municipal Courts, Domestic Relations Court, Beacon Health, Mentor School District, Womensafe, and the Painesville Police Department. United Way of Lake County presented an important message in this video, allowing the community to see that there is help available, that no survivor has to go through the process of recovery alone, and that “Change Starts Here”.
Please watch the video titled “United Way of Lake County Presents Domestic Violence and Abuse in Lake County“.
Last week, some of our staff and Board members attended An Evening with Michelle Knight. The night was one that we truly will never forget. Michelle Knight has such an inspirational story, involving strength and hope. Thank you to everyone who helped put this evening together, and big thank you to United Way of Lake County for hosting this motivational and heart-felt event.
It started four years ago when she decided she did not want any birthday gifts and she wanted everyone to donate to Forbes House instead. This year for her 11th birthday, she asked all of her friends to give her paper products to donate to the shelter. We are very thankful to have her return year after year, giving her birthday presents to Forbes House. Generosity can be found in many different forms, including a young woman’s birthday presents. Thank you, Rebecca!! Your donations are truly changing lives!
Thank you for your generous donation of the bears for the Time Out Teddy Program. These teddy bears were donated by the Exchange Club of Painesville to the Painesville Police Department and Forbes House. The idea behind the Time Out Teddy Program is to remind children (and adults) that police officers are working to help and protect the community. It is no doubt that life becomes stressful sometimes. Being able to present these teddy bears to any child in a crisis situation helps to provide a sense of calmness and comfort. They also help to remind people that sometimes it is okay to take a “time out”, or take a moment to take a breath, before a situation gets out of control.
In the October 2015 edition of Today’s Family Magazine for Lake and Geauga Counties, you will find an article titled “Domestic Violence Awareness: Bringing it to the forefront in our society.” This article can be found on page four, with a continuance on page six in the magazine. This incredible article mentions Forbes House, in addition to other shelters and agencies that work with adults and children who may have been affected by domestic violence.
Wanda Simmons, Executive Director of Forbes House, was quoted on page four, stating, “Many survivors of domestic violence who enter our shelter, come to us broken, with very low self-esteem, needing a fresh start, unsure of themselves, require counseling, and oftentimes medication. Each individual client is uniquely serviced according to their immediate personal needs.”
The purpose of the article is to bring awareness to the community, by providing an extremely important message that there is help available to those who need it. October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. You can provide help by sharing these resources and important information with others in your community.
You can read the article by clicking Today’s Family, October 2015. “Domestic Violence Awareness: Bringing it to the forefront in our society.”
Thanks to the generosity of our September Women’s Leadership Council of United Way of Lake County members and Sept luncheon guests on the campus of Lakeland Community College , the dynamic women of Forbes House walked away with loads of toiletries for their clients! Special thanks to Kathy Buse, President of Advancing Women in STEM, for sponsoring the luncheon and organizing the charitable donations for Forbes House!
Forbes House would like to thank Karen and Michelle from Affordable Uniforms in Mentor, Ohio for providing us with a large donation of scrubs! Upon arrival to the shelter, our clients are able to take a shower and do their laundry. This helps to give a sense of comfort in their temporary home. Being able to provide our clients with clean clothing during the intake process is an amazing blessing. Thank you again for this generous donation!
On October 2nd, Forbes House and Tackle Domestic Violence partnered to host Purple Light Nights, which was created to kick start Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The event was held in Downtown Willoughby, where the city illuminated the streets with purple lights, local bars served purple beverages, and community members participated in theWalk to Remember. This event promoted awareness about the severity of domestic violence, remembered those who have lost their lives, shared resourceful information for current survivors, and provide hope for people who may still be living in an abusive situation. To read more about the Walk to Remember and how Tackle Domestic Violence was inspired, please visit the following link to read the News Herald article.
To continue to help raise awareness about domestic violence, you can wear purple throughout the month of October, visit Forbes House and Tackle Domestic Violence , and like the Facebook pages for each organization. Forbes House has a 24/7 helpline, which can be reached at (440) 357-1018, to assist with answering any questions or helping in a crisis situation.
