I’m fundraising for Women’s Advocates in St. Paul, MN to help them increase safety resources and services for domestic violence victims in the midst of the pandemic. As the first shelter in the US for women and their children escaping domestic violence, they’re an organization that helps domestic violence victim/survivors get crisis intervention, safety resources, emergency shelter, and housing advocacy. 

If you'd like to learn more about their work and history, there are several documentaries in this link: https://www.wadvocates.org/documentary/

With stay at home orders due to COVID-19, the rate of domestic abuse has worsened. And women feel less safe to call for help, both because they feel less safe making the call, and because they're concerned about their children and COVID. This is a terrible time for all of us, but particularly a terrible (and dangerous) time for them.

As one of my pro bono data analysis projects, I've been working with Women's Advocates for more than a year. Have you ever wondered what happens with your donations and if an organization even makes a meaningful difference? I sure have, and I've had the opportunity to meet the staff at Women's Advocates and look at the data they have for the women they serve. From the demographics, what they do is critical, and from the results, what they do is working. But there's so much more work to do, especially in terms of safe, stable, and affordable housing. All things I've taken for granted in my life.

I hope you'll join me in supporting their work, but if you're not able, or wouldn't want or like to, please at least keep the women and children that they serve in your thoughts. 

Thank you,

Ginny