Cycle Tour 2009

A special thanks to the participants and sponsors of our 3rd Annual Safe Harbor Cycle Tour.  Over 200 riders enjoyed 25-mile and 65-mile courses along the country roads of Iva in southern Anderson County.  The routes ran along the most lightly-traveled and beautiful roads in the upstate, circumnavigating Lake Secession and touring the peaceful Mennonite Country.  Following the ride, the participants enjoyed hamburgers from the grill at the Iva Civic Center.  It was a great morning and together we raised over $18,000 to benefit the mission of Safe Harbor.  Be sure and check out the event photos at www.safeharborcycletour.org (click photo gallery) provided by Dr. Chase Hunter.  

Thanks to the following sponsors:
Monarch – Town of Iva
Crescent – Foothills Community Foundation; Wachovia; AnMed Health
Meridian – Peoples Bank; BB&T; Trammell Law Firm; Anderson Radiation Oncology
Chrysalis – AMC Investments, LLC; First Baptist Church of Iva; Dunaway & Associates; oobe’; McDougald Funeral Home; Edward and Lana Mattison; Winnie Williams
Media – Anderson Independent Mail; Easley Progress; Pickens Sentinel; Powdersville Post 

The Voice of a Survivor

“I am your neighbor.  I am your sister.  I am your mother.  I am your daughter.  I am your best friend.  I am the lady in the line at the grocery store. I am everywhere. I have been controlled for so long I have forgotten how to make my own decisions.  I have been called fat and stupid.  I have been told I am a terrible mother and a terrible wife.  I have been drug across the house.  I have been threatened with the death of myself and my children if I tell a soul or try to leave.  I have been jerked by my hair.  I have been awakened in the middle of the night to be punched over and over.  I have had bruises that I showed no one.  I have tried to tell my minister but he only suggested I be a godlier woman.  I have run as fast as I could to get away only to come back out of fear, guilt, shame or hunger.  My career has been sabotaged.  My money has been controlled.    My children have learned to disrespect me.  I have learned to disrespect myself.  I have believed I don’t matter.  My spirit has been beaten down.  I have been beaten down.  I grew to believe there was no way out.  I would live in this hell forever.  I have drunk myself into oblivion trying to escape.  I have forgotten what I love.  I have left so many times I lost count. One day I left. One day I woke up and ran to the light of Safe Harbor.  I carried my broken self and my broken babies to a place of hope.  I was given love and shelter.  I was fed.  I met others who had escaped the same hell.  I lay down at night and slept safely.  I cried and I cried and I cried.  I woke up to a new day.  I woke up to a new life.  I was given things I had learned to go without like clothes, soap, shampoo, love and acceptance.  I began to trust a few.  I began to trust myself.  I began to stand up straight.  I came alive.”                                ~ by Caroline, a survivor

Domestic Violence Training

ADVOCATES AND OFFICERS PARTNER TOGETHER TO HELP VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
• Safe Harbor hosted Domestic Violence Intervention and Investigation Training for law enforcement professionals on June 16 & 17.

“When I was trained as a police officer in the 1970’s, I was taught not to arrest domestic violence offenders.  But, when I answered my first domestic call, I decided to challenge the law keep its promise to protect victims.”

These are the words of Lt. Mark Wynn, a national trainer for law enforcement professionals, who spoke during the Domestic Violence Intervention & Investigation Training at Greenville Tech on June 16 & 17.  Law enforcement officers, victim advocates, and judges from across the state gathered together during this training to hear Lt. Wynn speak about domestic violence investigation and intervention topics such as Threat Assessment, Avoiding Dual Arrest & Officer Manipulation, and Responding to Children on the Scene.  Safe Harbor planned and hosted this training, thanks to educational funding provided by the Community Foundation of Greenville.

Lt. Wynn served for 20 years in the Metropolitan Police Department in Kansas and Tennessee before becoming a law enforcement trainer on the topic of family violence.  He has led trainings for law enforcement professionals throughout the United States and internationally.

During the training, Lt. Wynn discussed the issue of victims who want to drop charges and refuse to testify against their abuser in cases of Criminal Domestic Violence.  Law enforcement professionals are often frustrated by this fact, thinking that victims are not interested in receiving help.  Lt. Wynn explained the fear that a victim faces in the courtroom, saying, “Think about it.  You would not want to testify against a person who mugged you if he knew your address, your phone number, where you work and go to church.  This is what it is like for a victim of domestic violence.”

Lt. Wynn discussed the importance of thorough investigation in domestic cases in order to avoid making dual arrests and to determine the difference between offensive and defensive wounds.  He explained that, when a victim tries to defend herself, the abuser might try to frame the victim as the abuser.

“It is important to listen to whole story, not just a piece of the pie,” said Lt. Wynn.  “When we start listening, we can prosecute offenders and give victims the help and protection they deserve.”

October Candlelight Vigils 2009

PLEASE JOIN US FOR
A CANDLELIGHT VIGIL FOR PEACE
IN REMEMBRANCE AND IN HONOR
OF VICTIMS & SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

October 6, 2009 at 7:00 in the evening
Piazza Bergamo - Main St., Downtown Greenville
AND
October 20, 2009 at 7:00 in the evening
Farmer’s Market Pavilion – 409 N. Main St, downtown Anderson

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.  Please join us as we remember victims and honor survivors of domestic violence.