Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

Safe Harbor wants to extend a special thanks to Foothills Community Church in Seneca for choosing Safe Harbor to be part of their 2011 “Project Reach” initiative!  In one short weekend, this a group of 20 volunteers from the church were able to complete an incredible amount of improvement projects at our Safe Harbor shelter in Anderson, including:

- Extending the shelter playground area with a new, larger fence

- Repairing existing playground equipment and providing a new swingset and handmade picnic tables

- refinishing our back deck/walkway

- completing general lawn maintenance – weeding, pruning, mulching, etc.

- creating a new garden plot

We are deeply grateful to Foothills Community Church for the generosity, time, and talents that they have shared with Safe Harbor through their “Project Reach” efforts.  Thank you for making a difference in the lives of the those whom we serve each day!

One out of every four women in the United States reports that they have been physically abused by a partner.  Domestic Violence is the leading cause of injury to women, and it affects people of all ages, races, ethnicities, religions, educational backgrounds, and income levels.

Domestic Violence affects our world, our nation, and our local community.  Here are the reported domestic violence statistics from SLED for our 4-County service area.

2010 Reported Criminal Events

(includes instances of aggravated assault, simple assault, & intimidation)

Anderson County – 1,169

Greenville County – 2,646

Oconee County – 341

Pickens County – 633

TOTAL: 4,819

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.  Join us in Safe Harbor’s “31 Days of Domestic Violence Awareness” as we work to raise awareness about this issue in our local communities.  Please plan to drop by the awareness events in your area: Read the rest of this entry »

On Friday morning, we had the privilege of meeting with Bobby Rettew to make plans for our first Safe Harbor video project.  As a videographer and journalist, Bobby is helping us to realize that making a video about Safe Harbor is much more than listing information about our mission and services.  It is about telling stories.

What does it look like to tell the stories Safe Harbor?  We’re not used to telling our stories, but it’s not because we don’t have them.  On the contrary, Safe Harbor is filled with stories…stories that remain forever in our hearts and memories…stories that may sometimes keep us awake at night…stories that often bring us to tears with sadness or laughter, sometimes both.  Safe Harbor has a million stories – stories of victims and survivors, mothers and children, brothers and sisters, volunteers and generous donors…the list goes on and on. Read the rest of this entry »

Today, we celebrate our independence as a nation.  We give thanks to the brave men and women of our country who have paid the ultimate price for us to gain and maintain the many freedoms that we enjoy.  We know that we are blessed by our many freedoms – the freedom to vote, to speak our minds, to worship our own God,  to make our own decisions about where we live, where we work, whom we marry, and how we spend our time.  The 4th of July is a time to recognize and rejoice in the fact that we live in a country where we have choices and freedoms that many nations do not have and that we often may take for granted.

On this Independence Day, however, we must also recognize that while we live in a free nation, there are many within this country who live in bondage behind closed doors.  In the United States, one out of every four women report that they have been abused by a spouse or dating partner.  Many others will never report their victimization.  A victim of domestic violence not only lives in fear of physical harm.  She also lives in a world that is void of all freedoms.  She is isolated from family and friends.  Every aspect of her life is controlled by someone else – her finances, her whereabouts, her daily activities, the way she dresses, who she spends time with – the list goes on and on.  A victim of domestic violence may live in the land of the free.  But, in her world, freedom does not exist.  Read the rest of this entry »

This editorial, written by Safe Harbor’s Executive Director Becky Callaham, is from the Seneca Daily Journal on June 15, 2011.

Brett,

I would like to respond to the letter to Ask Willie on 6/2/11 regarding domestic violence in Oconee County.  The reader is correct in noticing that domestic violence is a significant problem in our community.  Based on the most recent numbers (from 2008), South Carolina ranks 9th in the nation for deaths due to domestic violence. 

In May 2010, the SC Department of Public Safety published a significant study comparing rates of domestic violence throughout South Carolina from 2004-2008.  Domestic violence accounted for 40.6% of all reported violence between 2004-2008.  One quarter of all homicides in South Carolina during this period were committed by an intimate partner or family member.  In this study, which was based on reports from law enforcement, Oconee County ranked 27th   in the state for domestic violence victimization with 498 reported cases of domestic violence in 2008.  The deaths due to domestic violence in 2009 (the most current year for which we have statewide statistics) were 2, down from 3 in 2008.   In 2009, Oconee County tied with three other counties for the 4th highest rate of domestic violence deaths.  Consider the impact of just one friend, sister, mother or daughter whose life is carelessly ended by the person who is supposed to love her.   Read the rest of this entry »

During the 2010/2011 school year, we launched a new teen education program at Safe Harbor entitled “R.A.P.” (Relationship Education Project).  The R.A.P. program is a semester-long curriculum designed to enhance students’ awareness of dating abuse through education and interaction. Throughout the Spring Semester of 2011, Safe Harbor Teen Educator, A.J. Jeffcoat, developed and taught this 15-week curriculum to students at JL Mann Academy, Wade Hampton High School, and Seneca High School.  The curriculum engaged the students so that they could gain the knowledge to develop healthy attitudes and to make healthy choices in their relationships. The R.A.P. program serves as a tool to prepare students not only for immediate relationships during high school but also for relationships in the future, as well as prepare them to advocate for healthy relationships in the larger community. 

During the final R.A.P. classes this Spring, the students had the opportunity to share their feedback through written evaluations.  Their feedback and responses were powerful and confirmed for us that R.A.P. is a needed program in our schools.  Please read some of these student comments about what they have learned through the R.A.P. program:

“The RAP program has allowed me to see the do’s and don’ts in a relationship. So, if I ever end up in a bad situation, I will know what to do and who to contact.”

“I have a better understanding of all the warning signs now so I will know how to catch abuse before it starts.”

“I have learned not to blame myself when my boyfriend says something rude to me and to realize when I notice warning signs such as that, to try and end it or seek help.”
   
“I definitely feel prepared if dating abuse ever starts taking place in my life.”
 
“The most valuable thing I learned from this class is there is always someone I can talk to if I need help…that goes for anyone.”
Read the rest of this entry »

On June 14, 2011, Safe Harbor will host a one-day training entitled “Breaking the Cycle: Recognizing and Responding to the Signs of Teen Dating Violence.”  This training is geared for middle school and high school teachers, guidance counselors, school administrators, youth pastors/leaders, coaches, and other adults who work with teens.  Participants will learn about the dynamics and warning signs of teen dating abuse and how to effectively assist students who are dealing with violence in their relationships (safety planning, cultural competency, etc).

Professional trainers from BreakTheCycle.Org, a national nonprofit organization addressing the issue of teen dating violence, will lead this training. 

Studies show that 1 in 3 teens will experience violence in a relationship, yet two-thirds of them will never report it to anyone. (breakthecycle.org).  Females between the ages of 16-24 are more vulnerable to intimate partner violence than any other age group (US Dept. of Justice), and teen dating violence runs across race, gender, and socio-economic lines (National Center for Victims of Crime).  Read the rest of this entry »

“I cannot forget my mother.  She is my bridge.  When I needed to get across, she steadied herself long enough for me to run across safely.” – Renita Weems

On Mother’s Day, we celebrate the grace, the sacrifice, and the love of mothers everywhere.

In observance of Mother’s Day, please consider making a donation to Safe Harbor in honor of or in memory of a mother who is special to you.  Your donation will help another mother regain her footing and face the world with new hope.

Checks can be made to “Safe Harbor” and sent to: Safe Harbor PO Box 174 Greenville, SC 29602

***If you are honoring a mother through your donation, please include a note with the name and address of the mother who you are honoring – we will send a note to her.  If you are making a donation in memory of a mother, please include a note with a name and address of a family member who would like to receive notice of this donation.

by Julie Meredith, Safe Harbor Volunteer & Communications Director

This morning, I was flipping through radio stations in the car on my way to Safe Harbor.  During my short drive to work, I heard the lyrics of the Eminem/Rhianna hit single “Love the Way you Lie”:

“I’m tired of the games, I just want her back, I know I’m a liar
If she ever tries to leave again,
I’m gonna tie her to the bed and set the house on fire…”

I listened to the lyrics of Bruno Mars’ “Grenade”:

“Black, black, black & blue – beat me ‘til I’m numb
Tell the devil I said ‘hey’ when you get back to where you’re from
Mad Women, bad women, that’s just what you are,
You smile in my face then rip the brakes out of my car…
But, I’d catch a grenade for you,
Throw my hand on a blade for you
Jump in front of a train for you
You know I’d do anything for you.
I’ll go through all this pain
Take a bullet straight through my brain
Oh yes, I would die for you, baby
But, you won’t do the same…” Read the rest of this entry »

By ANDREW MOORE
THE SENECA DAILY JOURNAL – April 2, 2011

SENECA – The Upstate’s most active organization devoted to assist victims of domestic violence is reaching out to the area’s high-schoolers to teach them about the warning signs of abusive relationships.

Julie Meredith, communications director at Safe Harbor in Greenville, said Safe Harbor is offering a new program at three Upstate schools. Seneca High School, Wade Hampton High School and J.L. Mann High School are all participating in the “Relationship Awareness Project,” or RAP program. Read the rest of this entry »