How your donations help AVDA support victims of domestic abuse

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — All this month, CBS12 News has been highlighting the life-saving work of a Palm Beach County nonprofit AVDA, which stands for Help for Victims of Domestic Abuse. I told you the stories about survivorsand I introduced you volunteer who work around the clock to help survivors find safety and start a self-sufficient life.

AVDA could use your help right now as they work to match an anonymous donor who pledged $40,000 if they can raise that amount or more.

As AVDA President and CEO Pam O’Brien explained, every dollar makes a big difference in their work to help survivors and prevent domestic violence in the community.

“I am amazed at the number of people affected by domestic violence,” O’Brien said. “When you hear that 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men report it, I think everyone knows someone who goes through this.”

An essential service provided by AVDA is a hotline staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In the past year alone, the hotline received more than 2,000 calls. It also receives text messages. It is often the first step a victim takes to get out of harm’s way.

When an AVDA attorney answers the call or message, they can help with the caller’s unique needs. Sometimes they need advice to make a safety plan. Other times they need shelter, transportation and legal resources. AVDA can connect them to all of these, and it starts with calling 1-800-355-8547.

AVDA also operates an emergency shelter at an undisclosed location that has 64 beds. Last year, that shelter housed 263 people, including 114 children.

Council member Tami Babij visited the shelter and described it as an inspiring place of community and healing.

“I think the thing that stands out for me is seeing and interacting with the kids in the shelter,” Babij said. “Having a birthday party and some of them have never had a birthday party. And she can find a new pair of shoes for school and feel like they fit. Being able to see them ultimately thrive and see a smile on their face is why I will always support AVDA.”

AVDA’s work has two goals: supporting survivors and preventing domestic abuse in the community. To this end, they organize courses and estimate that they have educated more than 11,000 people.

For board member Beverly Cordner, working with AVDA is something she does in honor of a close relative. That relative was a victim of domestic abuse and it affected her for many years. Now, Cordner says he sees how the services can change a person’s life.

“I interacted with a survivor years ago and there was something she said that stuck with me,” Cornder recalls. “She said at that time that the abuser was her husband and he always told her that he was nothing. That he would never amount to anything. And that stuck in her head. And she always felt that he would do nothing. Being at AVDA and getting counseling really helped her self-esteem and helped her become the woman she knew she could be, away from her abuser.”

To participate in AVDA’s Purple Pajama Party fundraiser, visit this link. The campaign to raise over $40,000 and match an anonymous donor runs through November 15th.

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