|
Gift launches campaign for shelter |
|
Wednesday, 23 April 2008 |
|
Several months ago, Sissy Carden, Executive Director of the Women's Crisis Services of LeFlore County, received a call from Poteau banker, Steve Holton. Holton inquired about the WCS operations, the services offered and the volume of women and children served by the agency. Then Holton asked about the condition of the existing shelter.
"He wanted to know if we had plans to build a new shelter," recalled Carden. "I explained the desperate need for a new shelter, but also the lack of funds to do such a project. The overwhelming task of raising those funds made it a dream, not a reality. Then Steve began to ask the 'what if' questions. What if you had the money? What if someone would head a drive to raise the funds? What if someone would bring in an architect and a builder? What if it weren't just a dream?" A few days later Steve and his wife Pam met with members of the WCS board and presented them with a check for $100,000 to be used toward the construction of a new shelter. "Everyone seems to agree that domestic violence is an ugly problem, but very few are willing to open their checkbook and help in the fight against it," Holton stated. "Pam and I are fortunate to have the means and the desire to help. We feel that a new shelter for our local Women's Crisis Services would be a great place to start." The present shelter building is 70 years old. It consists of three bedrooms and two baths and serves an average of nine persons a day. The building has been used as a shelter for the past 20 years. According to Holton, the shelter building was originally an older two story house that was located behind Central National Bank. When the bank expanded its parking lot, the building was given to the WCS to be moved. CNB director Bill Barber donated a lot for the new location and WCS had a shelter. Over the years, many groups and individuals have helped in remodeling and expanding the building, but the growing demand for services continues to exceed the existing space. "The Holtons and the WCS staff have been working with an architect. A floor plan and design have been completed and presented to the WCS Board for approval," Carden stated. "We have consulted with a builder and the estimated cost of the project is $450,000." "A grant application for $100,000 was submitted to the Kerr Foundation, and last week we learned that they had awarded us a $25,000 challenge grant for the shelter project. That leaves us with a balance of $325,000 to raise," Holton said.WCS President Nancy LaVal of Heavener commented on the challenge that lies ahead. "We are a small agency with a large mission,” LaVal stated. “We provide a safe haven for women and children that are often in life-threatening situations. We give them food, shelter and a place to call home while providing the counseling and skills to help them start a new life. Regretfully, we have had to turn people away, because we don't have the facilities, and it's heartbreaking when you know that these women and children are trying to escape an abusive situation." The WCS Board will be naming a building chairman this month and have set a goal of raising the funds and starting construction this summer. The WCS Board members are Nancy LaVal, Marion Fry, Meg Nicholson, Stan Garland, Gwenda Taylor, Faye Smith, Ann Marchant and Karla Webb. Donations should be made payable to Women's Crisis Services of LeFlore County, and include the notation "The Kerr Foundation, Inc. Challenge" on the check. For more information regarding the project, contact Sissy Carden at 918-647-2810. |
|
Last Updated ( Thursday, 24 April 2008 )
|
