Goodbye my Darlin
Hello, my name is LeVette Thorne. I am the Executive
Director of The Place at the Lake, Benton County Missouri’s only domestic and
sexual violence organization. We save
lives every day by helping not only break the cycle of domestic and sexual
violence in the lives of our clients, but also in future generations to come
through education and prevention which helps ensure brighter futures for the
lives of Benton County residents and those in the surrounding area.
This campaign will raise money for operating costs of the
emergency shelter provided to clients in order for our organization to continue
offering domestic and sexual violence services. This is important because our
shelter is usually at full capacity with both in house and outreach clients,
proving and making a definite need for the services The Place at the Lake
provides. Some people may feel that
domestic violence isn’t a pressing issue in the Unites States, so I kindly ask
you to complete the following exercise and see if you feel it is pertinent. ..
Imagine four of the most important women in your life (mother,
sister, aunt, friend)
Picture their faces clearly!! Happy and smiling!! (But keep
your eyes open so you can read!)
Are you thinking of them?!?!
Can you imagine the color of their eyes, the texture of
their hair, their contagious laugh?!
Now choose one of them….
Focus specifically on just the one….
What qualities do you admire most, her kind heart, her true
sense of self, her intelligence?
Breathe her in for a moment and think of all the reasons why
she is so important to you!
Now imagine someone robbing her of all of the qualities you
hold so dear about her.
Imagine she is one of the millions of women suffering from
domestic and sexual violence each year…
What would you give to save her?
Did you know that one in four women will become victims of
domestic violence in their lifetime? It
could be you that help make that statistic one in five, one in fifty, or one in
two hundred. Make a pledge today, make a stand today, save a life today….save
her….she is in someone’s favorite four.
What We Need:
We need to raise $5000.00 to help keep our shelter
open. This money will be used for
operating expenses included but not limited to electric bills, required Missouri
shelter insurances, water/ gas bill, internet for clients and staff use, food,
toiletries, and shelter repair expenses.
There are several things that make Place at the Lake unique
like the extent of case management, for example staff asks clients to paint a
picture of how they would like to see their lives five years from now any way
they want. Once that image has been conveyed Case Managers immediately start
taking the steps to make their “dream” a reality! And there have been too many
success stories to count!
Also our shelter is like going to grandma’s house! We have a
beautiful country location surrounded by horses, a beautiful back deck and a
family dominated environment! Everyone cooks, eats, and works together to help
keep the house running smoothly! And while all domestic violence shelters are a
true blessing our home is an actual house which is very comfortable and quiet,
not institutional like by any means!
If for some reason Place at the Lake is unable to meet our
entire goal, all funds raised will still be used for their original purpose
which is operating expenses.
The Impact of your Contribution:
By making a contribution to Place at the Lake you will not
only be helping with financial expenses you will literally be helping us break
the cycle of domestic violence in our clients’ lives. YOU WILL BE HELPING
CHANGE THE LIVES OF OTHERS! You will be doing this by allowing us to continue
serving Benton County and the surrounding area, though we take clients from all
over the United States.
It doesn’t stop in this area though. Have you ever watched
rain come down on still water and witnessed the ripple effect that extends
outward at the place of impact? The same thing happens with domestic violence
survivors. They reach out and touch lives for the duration of their time on
this earth, helping others who have suffered as well, live a life free of abuse.
This makes the possibilities endless, literally endless! So while the place of
impact may be Benton County Missouri the ripple effect can touch California,
New York, China, Spain, etc!
Also, we need your help because Benton County is very rural
area with very limited funding sources. I ask you right now to remember the
special lady you had thought of in the very beginning of the exercise. Would
you save her if it meant a small monetary donation? You may be telling yourself
someone else will do it, maybe Place at the Lake isn’t even located in your
area! While we may not be located in your area we are all connected. We are all
in this country, and population of this world. So while we may not be next door
neighbors per say, we are figuratively just a couple of blocks away!
Risks and Challenges:
While I mentioned before that Benton County is located in a
rural part of Missouri and funding is limited, we have made a plan to conquer
these hurdles by reaching out to you and explaining that YOU can make the
difference in someone’s life TODAY!
Ways You Can Help:
I realize that times are tough and money is tight, so I
would like to thank you in advance for the kindness and generosity you shown
through your donation.
Also please share our link on your facebook, twitter, and
other social media accounts! Take a second to forward this to people in your
email contact list! Everything you do to help today is greatly appreciated! And
one last request. Reach out to that special lady in your life that came to mind
earlier. Let her know how valuable and loved she truly is! J