ST. GEORGE – October is not only breast cancer awareness month but is also domestic violence awareness month.
To observe domestic violence awareness month, The Domestic Violence Coalition and DOVE Center, 1240 East 100 South, will host an event at Vernon Worthen Park on Oct. 29 from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
The theme for this year’s event is “The Many Faces of a Family” and is completely free to the public. There will be several booths with free games for children, and the Washington County Sherriff’s office will cook a free Dutch oven lunch for all attendants.
Last week, The Domestic Violence Coalition held its annual candlelight vigil, which the DOVE Center supports and looks forward to each year Program Manager Holly Malnar said.
The DOVE Center has the capacity to house 24 women and dependent children at one time and the shelter is at its maximum capacity right now. Due to the economic situation in St. George, the DOVE Center has more applicants for assistance than ever before.
The center provides special programs of life skills, therapy and support groups for its residents, but it also offers weekly programs community members can attend. For more information on these programs and support groups call 628-0458.
Because the DOVE Center’s services are in such demand, it is constantly in need of volunteers and donations. To get involved at the center visit dovecenter.org or call 435-628-1204.
The DOVE Center has different support teams specializing in rape and sexual assault, domestic violence, and children. These special teams help victims with any needs they might have such as relocation, counseling, therapy and support. The state-funded Victim’s Reparation program provides the funding for victim’s to have a new start without much financial burden.
The DOVE Center not only assists the women residing in the shelter, but continues to assist those who leave the shelter as well.
“Most of the work we do is outside of the shelter, with what we call outreach clients,” Malnar said. “After they leave we continue to work with the people as needed. [Assistance] never ends as long they are willing to come in and meet with us. We are always there. They need a lot of support and that is why we are here.”
Copyright 2011 St. George News. This material may not be published or rewritten without written consent.
I truly believe that Dove Center is a great cause.My family were proir clients/ residents it was a blessing & curse.
Some of the employee’s have a heart of compassion….it’s a labor of love, that they have a passion for.For some it’s merely a pay check PERIOD.They are rude, disrespectful, insensitive & inconsiderate to those individuals in need who walk through those doors broken……they do more damage than good.They play favoritism & misappropriate the funding for their own selfish & greedy usage…Which is ILLEGAL & a shame & disgrace.
MY PRAYER IS THAT GOD HAS AND WILL REMOVE THEM, WEEDING THEM OUT TO MAKE ROOM FOR THE ONES WHO’S HEARTS ARE PURE!
I TOOK THE BITTER WITH THE SWEET, COUNTED MY BLESSINGS AND MOVED FORWARD……BY THE GRACE OF GOD!