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February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month

1 in 3 teens in the United States will experience physical, sexual, verbal, or emotional abuse by someone they are in a relationship with before they become adults. February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month (TDVAM) and its theme #LoveLikeThat, chosen by the national resource, “love is respect” “illuminates what ‘that’ means regarding healthy and unhealthy relationships. We know that love is more than a feeling; no matter how you define it, it’s essential to ensure you’re on the same page with your partner about the definitions and boundaries of your relationship.”

If you or someone you know is experiencing dating abuse, please go to our Resources tab and click on “Teen Resources” for more information about healthy relationships in English and in Spanish or call our confidential, 24-hour hotline at 540-373-9373.

Town Talk February 22nd Interview

Jackie Oliveira, Kirsten Knox and Kathy Anderson discuss National Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. 1 in 3 teens impacted. Empowerhouse’s program in schools is showing great promise. www.newstalk1230.net

Thank you to everyone who supported our 25th Empty Bowl!

During this year’s Empty Bowl, we celebrated 25 years of community members coming together to generously support survivors of domestic violence, the talented potters who created and donated the gorgeous bowls, the restaurants and home cooks who donated delicious food, and our wonderful volunteers who helped to make this successful event possible. Special thanks to the members of Elks Lodge #875 for hosting us.

Thanks to Ted Schubel, Fredericksburg Today, for this wonderful short time-lapse video featuring the fabulous bowls at the 2024 Empty Bowl. To watch, please click.

For more about Empty Bowl 2024, please click here.

Please click here to go to Kelsey’s Story.

Happy New Year!

As we say goodbye to a year of accomplishments and challenges and look forward to a hopeful, New Year, we’re thankful for our wonderful community. You helped us care for and support survivors of domestic violence and their children, so they knew they were not alone. Thanks to you, we were able to continue to provide life-changing services, shelter, and a new start for survivors like Kelsey and her children. (To read Kelsey’s Story, please click here.)

To date, your incredible generosity has raised over 3/4 of our $75,000 year-end goal to Empower a New Generation! Thank you for making this a season of renewed hope for survivors and their children! We wish you and your family peace and joy for the New Year.

If you haven’t donated yet and would like to give before year-end, please click here.

Kelsey’s Story

Part 5

Kelsey’s Story appeared five weekly installments:
Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5.

“The cycle of abuse will very hopefully not fall to my children & our children are the future.”

I look back on those days when my children & I were newly freed, I have such a love & gratitude for that time. Those feelings of aloneness, uncertainty, confusion, & hopelessness were turned into confidence, hope, & positivity & I am so grateful for Empowerhouse making it their mission to help victims & survivors alike in so many ways.

I fear when my abuser is released from prison he will come after me, come after my children, use the legal system to continue to attempt to control me & the kids both or try to gain access to them. That is the level of self-importance & delusion these abusers have. It’s an isolating feeling. But with groups like Empowerhouse, at least we can know aren’t alone in our journeys to our own freedom.

With your donations, you are the reason us victims & survivors alike feel hope again. With your support you give us & our children a new & optimistic chance at life.

Because of Empowerhouse’ support, education, & resources, it gave me the ability to learn & grow myself. I now educate my children on red flags, abuse, power & control, setting & keeping healthy boundaries, & more. I like to think of myself as being a cycle breaker. The cycle of abuse will very hopefully not fall to my children & our children are the future. The abuse ended with me in my family & I owe a big portion of that to Empowerhouse. A time that so very easily could have been the hardest part of my life turned into one of the best because of Empowerhouse’ support, encouragement, & resources.

Their love, kindness, caring, their resources & groups, & events are life changing. We are so blessed to have been able to experience the work they provide.

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This ends Part 5 of Kelsey’s Story.
Kelsey’s Story appeared in five weekly installments:
Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5.

If you, or someone you know, is experiencing domestic violence, please call Empowerhouse’s free, confidential 24-hour Hotline at (540) 373-9373.

Help a survivor overcome domestic violence and get back on her feet by making a donation today

Our 15th Annual Golf Tournament

Thanks to everyone who joined us as a Sponsor or a Foursome for our 15th annual Golf Tournament to support survivors of domestic violence. We had a beautiful day at the Pendelton Golf Club. Check out the team scores here or click on the image above.

Everyone is safe! After extensive renovations, we were able to begin sheltering survivors of domestic violence back in our building at the end of 2022. Learn what happened and ways you can help here.

 

 

Every day, Empowerhouse- supporting survivors of domestic violence- provides free help to adults and their children. As an accredited domestic violence center, we do not charge for services. Thanks to the donations from our community, we are able to continue providing free services to anyone who needs them.

Each day we meet survivors of domestic violence who take steps to be safer and eliminate violence in their lives and the lives of their children. They are taking these steps despite great risk to their personal safety. They are encouraged when they enter our facilities and realize you have prepared for their arrival. Most are surprised that we are there; many have great humility and question whether someone else may be in greater need than they are; many are embarrassed and strive to overcome their fear of speaking about what is going on in their lives (and the fear of continued and real threats of violence). All are grateful for the hand up once engaged in the support you make possible.

You are making our vision a reality in Stafford, King George, Caroline, Spotsylvania, and Fredericksburg: creating a diverse network of community members working together to promote safe relationships, homes, and communities. Thank you for giving! Thank you for making things better with the power of your financial gift!

 

 

Please click and watch our 40-second video above.

Healthcare providers have a unique opportunity to screen for Intimate Partner Violence. The film “Ask Me” demonstrates the importance of Universal Screening which has been proven to be effective and save lives. Watch the film now on Youtube: “Ask Me”.

ASK ME EVITE
 

 

Survivor Stories

Board Member Trish Jackson receives award for her strength and resilience:
Survivor of Domestic Abuse Now Helping Others.
See the news item on NBC4 Washington.

Telling Amy’s Story: Learn more about the devastating impact of domestic violence through the recently released documentary, Telling Amy’s Story.
Watch the Trailer  Read Susan Butta’s Review

EH STORYTELLING FACEBOOK

Please click to see Beth’s Story on our Client Stories page.

 

Rappahannock Council on Domestic Violence changed its name to Empowerhouse, Supporting Survivors of Domestic Violence. We are celebrating this effort to help survivors move beyond victimization to healing and empowerment.
The mission, to empower survivors of domestic violence and their children to believe in themselves and build new lives filled with dignity, respect, safety and hope; and vision: to create a diverse network of community members working together to promote safe relationships, homes and communities, remain the same.  [from the May 15 2012 press release]


Empowerhouse Public Outreach Office, Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm

Located at 150 Olde Greenwich Drive, Suite 101, Fredericksburg, VA 22408
Phone 540-373-9372
Postal address P.O. Box 1007, Fredericksburg, VA 22402

Email office@empowerhouseva.org

Tax Information: Empowerhouse is registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Contributions to Empowerhouse are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. Empowerhouse’s tax identification number is 52-1142547.

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