Battered women's shelter will change to co-directors
By Becky Barclay
Published in News on June 10, 2005 1:47 PM
The Lighthouse of Wayne County has restructured its leadership, switching from one director to two co-directors. The organization provides shelter for women suffering from domestic violence or sexual assault.
Cheri Seronick and Mary Bolin are the new co-directors. Mrs. Seronick was the director for a year and a half.
As co-director, Mrs. Seronick will be responsible for grants. Mrs. Bolin will be responsible for day-to-day operations. She has worked at the Lighthouse since 1994, helping with clients' children, with the court advocacy program and in other capacities.
"We went to a co-directorship because grant management is a full-time job," Mrs. Seronick said. "In order to maintain the grants we already have and try to get some new funding, I needed to be able to devote all my time to that.
"The Lighthouse is seeking more grants because the funding it has relied on for several years as being consistent, is no longer going to be like that for us. So we have to find some new funding sources."
Mrs. Seronick said just managing the dozen or so grants the Lighthouse already has, along with the monthly, quarterly and semi-annual reports required, is a pretty big job.
"With me taking care of the day-to-day stuff, it would have been impossible to find other funding," she said. "I just didn't have the time to do it being director."
Mrs. Bolin said Lighthouse officials hope to expand the programs it offers. One way is by starting a youth program. She said with women working, it's hard for them to find a baby-sitter.
"We'd like to have some support services for the children," Mrs. Seronick said. "They are victims, too, whether they were the primary victim of domestic violence or not. If they lived in a violent home, they are victims as well.
"We'd like to have support groups for the kids just like we do for the adults. We'd also like to have after-school programs that gives them some structure."
Anyone interested in volunteering at or making donations to the Lighthouse should call 736-1313 for more information.