If you’ve ever been inside our Community Office on Main Street, I’m certain you’ve felt the energy and spirit.  Energy and spirit fuels hope.  Hope combined with possibility.  Our energy and spirit are strongest in December.

Many of our program participants come through our doors experiencing some of the most difficult times of their lives.  During the third week of December our building is buzzing with peace, joy, and generosity.

Our Community Room undergoes a spectacular transformation.  In a matter of hours it becomes a holiday shop that will serve hundreds of children, women, and men. During November and December we have numerous gift tags placed throughout Clark County. On the tags are items needed by our program participants (or in the case of children, toys that are desperately wanted).  As a result we have unwrapped gifts arriving daily for our program participants in need. The holiday shop allows parents to choose new gifts or “shop” for their children at no cost.

During our shopping days the building is filled with volunteer “elves” helping to make the experience memorable.  From baking cookies in the kitchen to staffing the wrapping station, everyone has an important role to play. For a while, however brief it may be, all can take a respite from the difficult circumstances that brought them here. Program participants leave with great gifts and most importantly renewed energy and spirit.

I am inspired by the hope and possibility that I see, hear, and feel all through December and everyday here at ywca clark county. May your support and generosity of ywca renew your spirit with hope and possibility.

Happy Holidays,
Sherri

On a cloudy Saturday afternoon eight volunteers from Wells Fargo arrived with shovels and wheelbarrows in hand to help give the Y’s Care play area a much-needed facelift.

Y’s Care children were thrilled to return to daycare on Monday and find their sandbox filled to the brim with clean sand and the playground enhanced with bright bark chips.

Y’s Care, a ywca program for more than 20 years, serves a vulnerable population of 2 ½ to 5 year olds and focuses on kindergarten readiness and social skills.

While the Y’s Care outdoor playground had some desirable qualities, the goal is to ultimately turn it into a more naturalistic play area, an outdoor classroom that encourages authentic play with a wide variety of natural materials to explore. Studies have shown that connecting children with nature has numerous benefits. This is where Wells Fargo kindly stepped in with a grant and volunteers to make the project a reality.

In just under three hours the volunteer team was able to transport three yards of white beach sand into the sand box and distribute four yards of bark chips around the playground. Wells Fargo’s gift of time, talent, and treasure transformed the Y’s Care Children’s Program’s outdoor play area.

In the spring bamboo fencing will be placed around play area to cover up the chain link fence and complete the naturalistic setting.

Projects like the playground refresh would not be possible without the tremendous support of our community partners and volunteers. Thank you!

For more information on volunteer opportunities please visit ywcaclarkcounty.org or call 360 696 0167.

Election Day is a day designed to effect change. Voting provides an avenue for guiding our future… and there are additional paths available within our own community to make changes. This Election Day, community members enjoyed a celebration hosted by ywca clark county’s Social Change Program. The Social Change Program  is dedicated to preventing racism and other forms of oppression in our community through education and support. The Community Celebration increases civic engagement and rewards leadership in social change efforts.

Held at the Fairgate Inn, the Community Celebration featured live music, a multi-cultural fashion show, insight from local leaders, and recognition for Val Joshua and this year’s award recipients. The Val Joshua Racial Justice Awards are presented annually to individuals, businesses, or organizations who have demonstrated leadership working to eliminate racism and promote peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all people.

Luz Virgen Gonzalez received the Val Joshua Racial Justice Award for dedication to social change in Vancouver, evidenced by her participation with the Latino Community Resources Group as well as local events, labor, and businesses. Yarenni Mendoza and Ruth Ferguson each received a Youth Social Justice Award. Yarenni is a member of the Youth Philanthropy Committee, involved in the Bridge Builders Youth mentoring program and mentors youth in the schools and Latino Communities. Ruth is also a youth mentor and a member of many local social change and community-related organizations, including the Battle Ground Cultural Task Force and the Clark County Youth Commission.

“We were successful in bringing the community together to celebrate,” said Michelle Hurdle-Bradford, ywca’s Social Change Program Manager. “Students, government officials, business leaders and community members participated in the festivities. The event brought together different cultures and people interacting with each other as one community.”

The Social Change program hosts a number of social change workshops and events throughout the year. Contact Michelle Hurdle-Bradford at 360 906 9129 for more information on how you can get involved.

Supporting the ywca can come in a variety of ways: volunteering, cash donations, or in-kind donations. Jane and Steve Waddle, proprietors of DuckTales Kitchen in Vancouver, have been frequent supporters of the ywca. This holiday season they wanted to do something more special and personal.

On November 23rd the staff at DuckTales catered a wonderful holiday dinner enjoyed by 18 residents of the ywca SafeChoice Domestic Violence Shelter. Shelter residents typically cook their own meals and often don’t get the dining out experience. Recognizing that the holidays can be a difficult time of year, DuckTales delivered a full Thanksgiving dinner to the residents with all the trimmings: turkey, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie! The food was delicious and everyone appreciated the kindness from the DuckTales staff who served them.

Thank you DuckTales for kicking off the holiday season by supporting the ywca!

The holiday season is the perfect time to make an in-kind donation to our needy programs. Please see our list of current needs, stop by the community center and pick up a gift tag which has an item specifically requested by one of our program participants, or call 360 906 9157. Thank you for your support!

Vancouver, Wash. — ywca clark county’s annual holiday gift drive and appeal is now underway. The annual campaign, which strives to raise more than $75,000 and provide holiday presents for more than 500 vulnerable children and families, is in its 8th year of making holiday wishes come true.

This year, the ywca needs your help more than ever. Demand for ywca services has increased 10% in the past year, while the budget experienced a decrease of more than 8% decrease. Your year-end contribution to the holiday appeal will help brighten the lives of community citizens who are victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse and neglect, homelessness, foster youth, and incarcerated women.

Donate to ywca clark county

Make your tax deductable donation to ywca clark county through our secure online donation form, or make a donation via check payable to ywca clark county, and mail to 3609 Main St., Vancouver, WA 98663, or call 360 696 0167 for more information.

Donate Through Causes

First Independent Bank of Vancouver selected ywca to participate in their Ready to Give Campaign. They will match every donation, dollar for dollar donated through ywca clark county’s Causes page on Facebook. Visit www.firstindy.com for more details.

Give a Gift

The ywca accepts new, unwrapped gifts for boys, girls, men, and women of all ages. Top needs include gift cards for Safeway, Fred Meyer, Wal-Mart and Target, and gifts for teenagers such as electronics, jewelry, books, games and gift cards.

Donation Drive

ywca clark county is the only non-profit in the area that allows individuals to requests specific gifts through our gift tag program. Your business can participate in this program by calling Lauren Shatz at 360 906 9157 and requesting any number of gift tags. Return gift tags with the unwrapped gifts by December 17th, and rest assured that your efforts will be well received.

All donations are tax-deductible. Any and all donations can be dropped off at:

ywca clark county
3609 Main Street
Vancouver, WA 98663

Hours
Mon-Thurs: 8am-9pm
Friday: 8am-5pm

With community support, the ywca can give the gift of hope. “We left the house with nothing. I thought this was going to be a bleak Christmas, but instead, look at the gifts my children will wake up to! Thank you for your help!”

Vancouver, Wash. — Learn how community leaders respond to the impacts of domestic violence in Clark County at this panel discussion Wednesday, October 20th from 6-8pm at the ywca clark county community room, 3609 Main St., Vancouver. The panel includes: The Honorable Carin Schienberg, Clark County Commissioner, Detective Carole Boswell of the Vancouver Police Department, Reverend Shelly Fayette from The Church of the Good Shepherd, and Kathleen Lipiec, MSW Supervisor of the Care Management Dept. at SW WA Medical Center. This event, and the October 27th survivors panel from 1-3pm cap off the domestic violence awareness month activities hosted by ywca clark county.

As evidenced by the recent murder-suicide in Hazel Dell, our community is not immune to domestic violence. Clark County has lost over 42 lives to this crime in the past 13 years, ranking the county as the 5th highest in domestic violence related homicides and the 4th highest in related suicides in the state of Washington. Tomorrow’s event is a rare opportunity for the public to address this and other domestic violence related issues with community leaders. Next Wednesday’s event is a unique chance to hear from survivors and to understand the issues from a survivor’s perspective.

The SafeChoice Domestic Violence Program offers a variety of services including one-to-one appointments, legal advocacy, shelter, classes, support-group sessions and walk-in/phone-in advocacy. As the leader in domestic violence related services for Clark County, SafeChoice is staffed with expert advocates, connected with related area organizations, and stocked with the most current resources and information. The public can reach the SafeChoice hotline 24 hours a day at 360 695 0501, or toll free at 800 695 0167.

ywca clark county received the WSUV Community Award for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at a Scholarship and Recognition Dinner on October 5^th. This award distinguishes ywca clark county as having succeeded in broadly helping achieve equity, diversity and inclusion within Washington State University Vancouver (WSUV) territory.

ywca clark county submitted a 500 word narrative as part of the application process. In this narrative, ywca reflects upon their status as the sole organization in the county, “offering two programs dedicated to victims/survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, with special advocacy and services for LGBTQ, youth, incarcerated women, men, Spanish and Russian speakers, homeless and low income children/families.” ywca clark county welcomes all community members to participate in any of the seven programs providing critical services to specific community needs.

“From the two year old whom our CASA advocates are speaking up for to the 20-year-survivor of domestic violence, to the African American students who must face the confederate flag, our programs strive to provide proactive solutions, empower positive life choices, and celebrate and respect the dignity of each and every person in Clark County,” said Jennifer Werdel, Director of Development and Communications at ywca clark county.

The Award for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion is one of two Community Awards offered by WSUV. Peggy Hays, who manages the Family-to-Family program for the Division of Children and Family Services was the recipient of the Community Partnership Award, honoring her service to the children of the community. Chancellor H.A. Dengerink, who believes in a strong relationship between the university and community, implemented the awards in 2009 to recognize those who work to build the community.

The ywca clark county SafeChoice domestic violence shelter has been chosen to receive a $20,000 grant from The Mary Kay Foundation as part of the organization’s annual #3 million national domestic violence grant program. The grant will be used to support a part-time advocate to manage the Children’s Advocacy Program within the SafeChoice domestic violence shelter.

The Children’s Advocacy Program supports children as individuals while living at the shelter with their parent. The advocate will help supervise the children while their parents attend support groups; implement activities that are educational, fun and therapeutic; plan for celebrations, such as birthdays and holidays, while children are separated from extended family; and provide advocacy to both children and parents during their shelter stay.

Domestic Violence Outlook

According to the second “Mary Kay Truth About Abuse” national survey conducted in March 2010, domestic violence shelters indicate the economic downturn has increased demand for services. Shelters also report, the ability to raise funds and provide services will be hampered into 2011. Due to the economy, the survey also revealed:

• 88% of domestic violence shelters expect their overall situation will worsen, or remain the same in 2011.
• 77% of domestic violence shelters report an increase in women seeking assistance from abuse.
• 51% of shelters nationwide note the abuse is more violent now than before the economic downturn.

“In light of the economic downturn and alarming increases in domestic violence, The Mary Kay Foundation’s mission is more critical than ever before. The SafeChoice domestic violence shelter has helped so many people and their families in the Vancouver area. We know they will use these funds to benefit even more domestic violence survivors and their children and help end domestic violence,” said Jennifer Cook, The Mary Kay Foundation board member.

About the SafeChoice Program
The goal of the SafeChoice Program is to provide a safe, supportive, non-violent, non-judgmental shelter, including advocacy-based counseling and referral services, for women and children affected by domestic violence. The program offers women the information and services they need to evaluate their needs and make decisions for them and their families.

About The Mary Kay Foundation
The Mary Kay Foundation was created in 1996, and its mission is two-fold: to fund research of cancers affecting women and to help prevent domestic violence while raising awareness of the issue. Since the Foundation’s inception, it has awarded nearly $25 million to shelters and programs addressing domestic violence prevention and more than $14 million to cancer researchers and related causes throughout the United States. To learn more about The Mary Kay Foundation, log on to www.marykayfoundation.org or call 1-877-MKCARES (652-2737).

about the scholarships
Since its inception in 1916, ywca clark county as been dedicated to empowering women, children and families. We have also been dedicated to recognizing the efforts of community members who join with the ywca in our mission to eliminate racism, empower women and promote peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all people.

In 1985, the ywca created an awards program to recognize young women for their volunteer community service and leadership. Since then, the we have honored close to 220 students from Clark County high schools for their efforts to build a stronger, healthier, and more vibrant community.

We are excited to be able to provide four academic scholarships for senior women in the 12th grade as well as one scholarship for a young man or woman in the 11th grade. Applicants must submit their applications by 5:00pm on Friday, November 18th, 2010.

selection process
Applicants will be selected on the basis of outstanding community service, achievement in academic and volunteer roles, and demonstrated leadership. A committee of judges will select the finalists. Finalists will be notified by December 3rd and interviews will commence on December 17th. The winners will be chosen after interviews with the committee.

recognition & celebration
The scholarship recipients will be honored at a community event in June 2011, and will be given the opportunity to speak. In addition to community recognition, each Senior Young Woman of Merit will receive a scholarship in the amount of $1,500, and the Junior Social Justice Award recipient will receive a scholarship for $1,000. Scholarships are generously granted by Donna Roberge-Nozel, Soroptimist International of Vancouver, First Independent Bank, and Altrusa International.

how to apply
To apply, please carefully review and fill out the application packet and submit to ywca clark county by 5:00pm on Friday, November 19th, 2010. If you have any questions, please call Jennifer Werdel at 360 906 9123.

Greetings friends and supporters:

As the sun streams through the window today, it’s hard to believe we are saying good bye to summer and ushering in fall. There’s a crispness in the air these days, a reminder that the days grow shorter as we speed toward another season. And, each season also ushers in new developments, changes, and growth.

Here at the ywca, we are in the midst of harvesting our first full growing season in our community garden. We have spent these warmer months tending our garden and its bounty is evident every day. Our tiny preschoolers have learned about the seeds that grow our healthy food, how careful patting can nurture the smallest of seedlings, and how delicious a carrot can taste when it’s fresh from the earth!

From 2 ½ to adult, our community has embraced our garden. Our foster youth planted a wonderful bed of flowers and vegetables artistically laid out, and full of the colors that only nature can provide: the burgeoning cherry tomato; the colossal, verdant zucchini; the elegant zinnia and dahlia gracefully swaying in the setting sun.

Indeed, our programs have thrived and celebrated the therapy and camaraderie that our garden has provided. We are learning from one another, and sharing with one another, as is evident in our “free farmer’s market”: baskets of organic produce that are shared daily in our community lobby for any to take and enjoy.

Our changing season has also brought change in our leadership. On Oct. 1 we welcome Sherri Bennett to the preeminent post of Executive Director. Sherri brings more than a decade of experience working at the ywca, beginning as an on-call shelter advocate to leading our organization into the next season of growth—including expansion to North and East County and planned capital campaign.

Our growth and success from a small organization that provided a safe haven for single working women in 1916, to a blossoming, multi-service, mission driven social services leader providing peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. We have seen many seasons. Yet growth and success is never a time to rest on one’s laurels.

Since 2009 we have realized a 10% growth in demand for our services. With growth comes need, and that’s why we are so thankful now, more than ever, for you, our supporters and friends.

Within a month, we will begin a holiday appeal. We strive to create a safe season of celebration for children and families: families who cherish a violence-free home and an opportunity for their own re-birth. You, as always, have the power in your hands to nurture this hope.

As our nights continue to grow cooler and longer, please remember those who are struggling every night to find their light, and know that, because of you, many are finding light and hope at ywca .

Jennifer Werdel

Director of Development & Communications
ywca clark county