SSWBN ” Shower for the Shelter”

South Shore Women’s Business Network kicked off the first charity fund raiser for DOVE with a fun business after hours sponsored by Lori Cook at the Bryantville Deli.  Lori knows how to throw a party (ask her how she can help you throw a good one with her catering) and everyone who attended got to experience some of her cooking.  The mini bananas fosters were a big hit with the crowd, but so were the crab cakes and the jalapeno poppers just to name a few of the tasty items offered.

Lori shared that people from the community had seen the event advertised and had been dropping off donations for DOVE all week.  Sue Chandler, executive director of DOVE and Jessica Cohen, shelter manager were very pleased with the outpouring of support from SSWBN members and the community.  DOVE, which stands for Domestic Violence Ended, has been in existence for over thirty years.  In that time, they have worked with over 4500 people affected by domestic violence.  They offer a 24 hour hotline, an emergency shelter, and many community support services.  All of the donations gathered will go directly to women who are fleeing from domestic violence.

Domestic violence is a subject that makes many people uncomfortable.  Perfectly understandable, because none of us want to believe a friend, co-worker, neighbor or family member is being terrorized by someone they love.  In announcing that DOVE is one of SSWBN’s charities for our twentieth anniversary year, I have been blown away by the number of people who have told me stories of people that they know who have been affected.  Domestic violence is an equal opportunity employer.  It knows no boundaries for socio-economic status, sexual orientation or race.  To learn more about the warning signs of domestic violence and about DOVE, please visit their website at:  www.doveinc.info Thank you Sue and Jessica for your commitment to this very important work.