Letter to Editor – February 2012

February 1, 2012

Dear Editor,

After two months and over $100,000 in restoration, SAFE Shelter is finally open again, following a flood in November. Shelter residents, who had been housed in a local hotel, were brought back to the shelter on January 23. SAFE Shelter is this area’s only shelter dedicated to victims of intimate partner violence.

When the word got out that the shelter had catastrophe, the community began an outpouring of concern, support and assistance. With your help, Savannah, we were able to not only provide a beautiful Thanksgiving dinner for our residents, but an amazing Christmas, with all of our families being taken care of through our Adopt-a-Family program. Since opening its doors in 1980, approximately 20,000 women and their children fleeing the violence in their homes have sought refuge at SAFE Shelter.

The economy, reductions in community support, grants slashed, all of these factors have affected the shelter; however, we have not reduced services. SAFE Shelter has always depended on this community for support and this community has never let us down. Thank you, Savannah, for having the courage to be the voice for those who have no voice. Your support, kindness and assistance have kept our doors open, 24-hours a day.

Sincerely yours,

Cheryl H. Branch

Executive Director

SAFE Shelter