Running for the Shelter
Posted at 5:22 am on September 30, 2009 by McMama
I don’t remember much of my childhood, probably because much of it was less-than-pleasant. One of my very first memories is of standing with my mother in front of the duplex in which she, her boyfriend, and I lived. The lot was dirt and gravel, and a truck filled with our belongings was parked there. We were finally doing it. After hearing her threaten to do it for what seemed like my entire 5-year life, she was finally leaving Him.
As I grew up and remembered and learned the physical and emotional abuse she had put up with during those years, I promised myself that my children would never know such things. I promised myself that any man that ever laid a hand on me would live to regret it. I’ve been lucky enough to never have to test my resolve to leave a man who hit me – none ever has. But not all women are so lucky. Domestic violence happens. It happens every day, and it happens here, in DuPage county.
So far as I know, my mother never needed help from strangers. She had family who supported her, who helped her get away, helped her care for her daughter, and helped her start her life anew. But many women don’t have that support. Many women suffer in silence, with no idea where to turn or how to escape.
Here in DuPage county, there is somewhere to turn. Family Shelter Service provides help and hope for victims of domestic violence. They provide individual and group counseling, court advocacy and services, shelter, a hotline, teen services, children’s services, and more. They run two resale shops which provide clients and their families a place to replenish their wardrobes and households with gently used items, free of charge, in addition to providing a great value to the general public while raising funds for shelter services.
Another way Family Shelter Service raises funds is through their annual 5k run/walk. This year’s event takes place on October 4, and I have been training for 7 weeks to be able to run in it, to honor my mom’s strength, to bring attention to this problem that is so oftenRunni under rug swept. When I started my training, I could barely run for 60 seconds without becoming winded. Now I can run for 3.1 miles (5k) and am very excited to be doing a small part to help Family Shelter Service.
After my race, I plan to get involved with the shelter by volunteering, donating to the resale shop, and giving gifts in kind. There are many other ways to help.
If you’d like to sponsor my run, you can donate here: http://www.active.com/donate/FSS5KSOS/mandiesue
If you or someone you love is a victim of domestic violence, you can call Family Shelter Service’s 24 hour hotline at (630) 469-5650
Thank you for this.
I was in an abusive marriage. The court advocates were instrumental in getting me an Order or Protection, and helping me find a way out when I felt so trapped.
Thank you.
Family Shelter is a wonderful organization. I’ve had contact with their staff on many occasions through my last job. This is an important and worthy service in our community that we need to support. Thanks for sharing your story and highlighting Family Shelter.