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Tablescapes 2004 - In Support of an Emergency Shelter for Boone CountyCommunity Foundation of Boone County |
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The Helping Hands Shelter, Boone County's only short term, emergency shelter victims of domestic violence, will receive another much needed financial grant with the proceeds of the second "Tablescapes", a two-day event on October 11 and 12 at Ulen Country Club in Lebanon sponsored by the Community Foundation of Boone County.
Tying the event into October, which is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Community Foundation Board member and event chairman Sandy Obremskey and her committee of Boone County volunteers hope to again raise $20,000 for the shelter, as they did with the first event in 2003.
The shelter is the developing result of cooperative community efforts. Witham Health Services donated the former Nurses Residence building last year to the Boone County Mental Health Association, which has converted the building into a "Helping Hands" facility for the county, which will include short term, emergency shelter. Other centrally located non-profit Boone agencies in the building are the Center Township Trustee, Youth Action Community Council, Visiting Nurses, and Healthy Families.
Previously connected to the former Witham building, the facility had to be renovated to operate independently from the older hospital. Jane Taylor, Mental Health Executive Director, reports that within the first year approximately $50,000 of donated money has been used to install a new furnace, electrical work, plumbing and roof repairs. A security system and new fire alarm system are now being installed. In the specific shelter area, restrooms are being constructed and framing for a dormitory type bedroom to accommodate 10 - 12 persons, supervisory area and kitchen, so that family violence victims can soon be housed in an actual shelter.
"Although much of the labor and a lot of materials have been donated, there is still much left to do and finance," reports Taylor. "Electrical work, drywall, lowering ceilings, and windows are yet to be finished." When completed, the shelter will continue to have maintenance costs and the need for funding for women and children to help set them up for their futures.
In 2002-2003, the Boone County Prosecutor's Office received reports of 140 victims of domestic violence, sexual abuse and sexual assault. When the children of such victims are included, the statistics increase. Numerous other calls for help were reported by other social agencies. In the State of Indiana during the same time period, 69 individuals lost their lives to domestic violence.
Currently, Boone County is the only county in the Indianapolis Metropolitan area without an actual shelter location for victims of domestic abuse. Taylor commented that in the past, women and their children in need of shelter have had to be housed at local motels or transported to other counties when domestic violence requires protection and services. She acknowledged the close cooperation among Witham Hospital, Boone service agencies, law enforcement officers, and local attorneys and courts in assisting domestic abuse victims, noting that a centralized shelter will improve all agencies' ability to respond to family violence situations.
IF YOU GO:
Tablescapes, Ulen Country Club, Lebanon
Preview Party, Monday, October 11, 6-8--$25
Tablescapes viewing--speaker Judy O'Bannon --luncheon, Tuesday, October 12, 10 a.m. -- $100 ($65 deductible
Reservations requested by October, payable to Community Foundation of Boone County, PO Box 92, Zionsville Indiana 46077. Questions about the event and reservations should be directed to Lisa John, CFBC Executive Director, or Ann Hall at the Foundation office, 317-873-0210 or 765-482-0024, or
Contributions to benefit the shelter: should be sent to the Community Foundation of Boone County.
Participating Table Sponsors:
View photographs of the 2003 Tablescapes event.
For additional information, please contact:
The Community Foundation of Boone County
PO Box 92
Zionsville Indiana 46077
Voice: 317-873-0210 or 765-482-0024
FAX: 317-873-0219
Email: cfbc@in-motion.net
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