Blog

The first way to help end intimate partner abuse during Domestic Violence Awareness Month is easy. Change your profile pics on social media to stand in solidarity with survivors.

You’ll find eight different profile pic options  in the slideshow below this post.

Kentucky’s theme this year is “Wear some purple with your pink.” That’s because Domestic Violence Awareness Month shares October with Breast Cancer Awareness Month. We’ve created pinked-out versions of each design so you can raise awareness for both issues at the same time.

The process to change your profile pic is a little different on every social media site. Here’s how you do it on Facebook:

• Right-click (PC), CTRL-click (MAC), or long-click on your favorite profile pic
• Save the image to  your computer or mobile device.
• Go to your profile and hover over your profile picture.
• Click the Update Profile Picture option and select upload a photo.
• Browse the files on your computer or mobile device to find the saved pic.

[slideshow_deploy id=’1936′]

Remember to update your status so your friends know why you changed your pic. Here are some ideas:

• I just changed my profile pic for Domestic Violence Awareness Month. I stand in solidarity with survivors of intimate partner abuse.
• For the next month, my profile will be purple and pink to show my support for survivors of breast cancer and domestic violence.
• One in three is one too many. I am committed to ending intimate partner abuse in our communities!

This post is part of our 17 Days/17 Ways Campaign to end intimate partner abuse.

People are talking about intimate partner violence. It’s in the news. Our friends, family and co-workers are having important conversations about barriers to leaving, reasons for staying, and abuser accountability. These dialogues are timely because October 1 marks the launch of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

And over the next 17 days, we will be sharing ways can help end intimate partner abuse. Our 17 Days/17 Ways campaign reflects our organization’s approach to our mission. We believe intimate partner violence is a community issue that requires a community response.

Each and every one of us can nurture lives harmed by intimate partner abuse. In small and big ways, your actions demonstrate intolerance for violence and embrace the needs of survivors.

Look to our Facebook page, Twitter feed, or this blog to follow the campaign. And please share the information with abandon!

Kroger has committed to donating a portion of purchases made with Kroger Plus Cards to the nonprofit organization of your choice. And we sure hope you’ll choose us!

It just takes a couple of minutes to register your Kroger Plus Card for the Community Rewards Program. Here is how you do it:

• Click on this link —-> https://www.kroger.com/i/community/community-rewards
• Choose “Sign in” if you already have an account with Kroger or “Create an Account” if you don’t.
• Then, register your card using the number on your Kroger card or your alternative ID number.
• Next, search for GreenHouse17.  (You could just search “green” and we’ll pop up.)
• Just click on our name.

We’re planning a U-Pick Day on the farm! Get together a group of family and friends for a fun day of flower picking on our farm.

Saturday, August 23
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
On our farm – Request directions here
$10 per bucket

Our beautiful flowers are field-grown by our staff and strong survivors of intimate partner abuse. More than a dozen varieties of flowers available! Every bucket picked helps survivors on the journey of healing. And shows them the community truly cares. Remember to wear comfortable clothes, and bring your own bucket and clippers if you’ve got ’em. Rain or shine, family-friendly event. Cash, check, and credit accepted.

The following is a beautiful blog written by a resident at our shelter:

“A blessing and a curse understanding the misunderstood independent and then codependent -is this what mixed emotions are all about?

With all the redundant obstacles that life requires, How easily does one become hypocritical? Tried and then tried to figure this journey out within the walls of this safe haven.

It’s encouraged here that the extremest impossibilities are purely tangible. But that most supernatural being that engulfs my atmosphere named Misery truly loves my company. I’m learning that to learn myself is that key I’ve always needed to that locked door in this secret garden.

Still easily lost on a straight path, I thought it was okay to expect an opportunity to fall into the palm of my hand. Ill knowledged? NO But my feet must make rhythmic moves and my cerebellum make rational decisions. All along, accepting that merging left to go right, is going to happen time and time again.

Throughout, I must want to need to help myself because accepting myself, nobody every made me feel this way. Come closer and let your light shine through.”

This post is part of our Survivor Stories series.

How do you imagine our shelter?

Many people assume it’s a sad place given the nature of our mission, but our shelter probably isn’t what you imagine.

Although the families we serve are healing from unimaginable physical, emotional, and financial violence,  our shelter is a place where hope grows.

Every day more than 32 adults and children find safety and healing between the walls of our emergency shelter. Survivors meet in the mornings to support each other and create plans for better tomorrows. Children run through our hallways after school on their way outside to play. The smells of homemade meals float through our building at suppertime.

We are nurturing lives harmed by intimate partner abuse, and we want to share these stories of hope with you.

So, each month this summer we are offering a tour of our facility:

• Tuesday, June 24 – 5:30 p.m.
• Thursday, July 31 – 11:30 a.m.
• Tuesday, August 26 – 5:30 p.m.

Tours last about an hour and include light refreshments. Our advocates and counselors will be on hand to answer questions about our services; a member of our leadership team will describe the vision for our organization’s future; and a shelter resident will share a personal story of survival.

We limit the size of each tour group (usually fewer than 10 people) to ensure a quality experience and plenty of time to ask questions.

Registration before the tour is required.

Just give Josh a call at 859-868-8868 or complete the following form to register. We will follow up with additional information and driving directions before the tour.

We look forward to seeing you soon!

Josh Nadzam, former University of Kentucky athlete and member of our staff, will run from Lexington to Frankfort on Thursday, March 6 to raise awareness and support for proposed legislation to protect victims of intimate partner abuse in dating relationships.

Did you see Josh in the news and want to show your support? Follow this link to make your donation.

This is a one-man run to improve Kentucky’s response to the needs of dating violence victims. Josh acknowledges the run is going to be difficult but says, “The challenge is nothing compared to the difficulties experienced by victims and survivors of dating violence in Kentucky.”

“I believe so many Kentuckians support civil protections for dating partners but just aren’t aware of the challenges advocates and legislators have faced trying to make this bill law,” says Nadzam. “I’m hoping my run to Frankfort gets people talking and calling on our elected officials for support.”

Josh is asking Kentuckians to show their support for dating violence protections by making a donation for every mile he will run. Contributions will benefit our organization and provide services to survivors in need.

“I’m a runner. So, I’m running because these protections are really needed here in Kentucky,” says Nadzam. “But everyone can do something. After all, if we are aware of injustices and don’t do anything, then we are contributing to those injustices as passive bystanders.”

He has created an online campaign to accept donations. Learn more at this link.