Ed and Barb Lavin
New Life Center is a shelter in Goodyear for women and children who are victims of domestic violence. When the family arrives (from anywhere in the country), they are assigned an advocate who works with them and helps them through their trauma. They are given help with writing a resume, looking for employment, job skills, parenting skills, etc. They can stay for up to four months and then move on to transitional housing or an apartment to start their new life.
Here in PebbleCreek, we have a group of volunteers who take food to the shelter once or twice a month. We supplement the main course that New Life provides with a dessert, fruit, veggie, or rolls and butter. We spend just 1.5 to 2 hours there (from 4:30 to about 6 p.m.) serving them, playing with the children, and chatting with the moms. When we leave there, we feel as though we have received much more than we have given! Our group is called “Caring Friends” and we enjoy bringing a bit of happiness, joy, and hope to them as they struggle through this very sad and traumatic time in their lives. This is our passion, because in Arizona, over 100 women are killed each year in domestic violence incidents and 10% occur right here in the West Valley.
On Friday, April 17 there will be a recruitment meeting at the Palm Room in Eagle’s Nest at 4 p.m. Our meetings only last an hour and if you have additional questions, we will stay after to answer them. We began this volunteer program about 12 years ago and many of our volunteers are moving back to their home state and/or have serious health issues. In order to continue this awesome program, we need your help. Please consider attending the meeting!
We need both women and men! The children need good role models; they see homes filled with anger and sadness and, many times, terrible parenting skills. Check out NewLifeCtr.org to find out more about this amazing organization and see what all they are doing in the community.
Please RSVP Barb and Ed Lavin at [email protected] or Susan Allen, volunteer coordinator at New Life Center at [email protected].