Women's Outreach seeks help
By Becky Barclay
Published in News on June 13, 2004 2:07 AM
Women's Outreach Inc. has about a month to find a new location for its offices and thrift shop, but no money to finance the move. To help fund a move to a new location, the group will hold a fund-raiser next Saturday and Sunday, June 19 and 20.
A Weekend of Hope will feature games, giant inflatables for children, food, crafts, live music, a dog show and a car show.
It will be held in the parking lot of the group's current thrift shop, Treasure Hut, at 2106 Wayne Memorial Dr. Hours are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday, June 20.
Susan Davis, executive director, said the group hopes to raise at least $5,000 from the event to be able to relocate. "We are looking at a couple of building options now," she said.
Weekend of Hope is for all ages of children and adults, said Ms. Davis.
There will be four huge inflatables both days, which will include a jungle gym, a maze, a slide and a moonwalk. Children will be able to play on the inflatables for $1 per attraction or $6 per child for an all-day pass. A family with four or more children will pay $20.
Vendors will sell various food items at reduced prices during the weekend. There will be face painting, clowns, balloons and games.
Anyone wanting to sell arts and crafts items or yard sale items may purchase a 10 by 10-foot space for $10. It includes one table. They must pre-register by calling Women's Outreach at 734-0047.
There will be a children's dog show on Saturday. A shot record or veterinarian's statement of shots must be shown when the dog is registered. The children will walk their dogs on a leash for a panel of judges. Prizes and ribbons will be awarded.
A spaghetti supper will be held Saturday from 3 to 7 p.m. for eat-in or take-out. Plates will be $5 and include spaghetti, bread and a drink.
Sunday there will be a car show from 1 to 4 p.m. with registration at 11 a.m. Trophies will be awarded. It is for vintage and new cars and also for unfinished cars. A Diamond In The Rough Trophy will be awarded for cars in the process of being restored.
Both days will feature live music. Women's Outreach is booking groups and individuals to perform. Sunday will be gospel music.
During Weekend of Hope, Treasure Hut will have a sale with most clothing, shoes, purses and household items on sale for $1 and that includes tax. There will be a 49 cent sidewalk sale both days.
Women's Outreach was founded in 1992 to help domestic violence victims and their children, according to Ms. Davis. The group offers free food to the women through its food pantry, resume and employment application assistance, transportation and limited day care.
"When our clients take on a new job in a factory, many of them have to start on the second or third shift," said Ms. Davis. "And it's nearly impossible for them to get child care. So we help. We want to expand that service in the future."
Ms. Davis said Women's Outreach doesn't have an emergency shelter for domestic violence victims, but it does help them get permanent housing.
Throughout the year, Women's Outreach holds picnics, cookouts and various parties for the clients and their children. There is also an Easter egg hunt and a Christmas party complete with Santa Claus.
Ms. Davis said domestic violence victims that go to Women's Outreach are "scared and alone and they appreciate what we do for them. They are good, decent people."
The group's yearly operating budget is between $15,000 and $16,000, said Ms. Davis. "That's because we pay no salaries. We are a volunteer organization so we can do a lot on a minimum amount of money."
The building that Women's Outreach currently operates out of has been sold and will be torn down. "Unfortunately we didn't expect this," said Ms. Davis. "All the money we had saved up, we put into renovating that building to be able to stay open. Now we don't have any money to move on."
She said everything has to be out of the old building within the next 30 to 45 days.