Rob Patton speaks at the July meeting of PFLAG

PFLAG:

Noah Project was proud to be invited to speak to the July meeting of the Big Country chapter of PFLAG – Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, where we talked about the dynamics of family violence and Noah Project’s services.

The chance to raise awareness in the community served by PFLAG is important, because victims of violence at the hands of a same-sex partner face unique challenges and barriers. Issues such as the threat of having their orientation “outed” and having fewer legal options make it harder for victims in gay relationships to escape abuse, and many male victims face closed doors when they seek help from domestic violence resources that only serve women.

Taylor County Restitution Center:

We also appreciate the chance to speak with the Intervention class at the Taylor County Restitution Center. The intervention class is always a great audience. They are engaged and interested in the information, and they readily share their own stories and viewpoints.

We will be open for business:

July 10th, 10:00 a.m. – 5:0o p.m.

August 7th, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

In order to maintain the confidentiality and safety of our clients, the store will still be the collection point for donations, which may be dropped off from 1 – 5 p.m. on Friday afternoons.

Come visit us in July and August for the best shopping deals in Abilene:

Noah Sales Again
640 Butternut (Corner of Butternut and South 7th) in Abilene
(325) 672-5150

A cow patty could make you $250 richer if you’re the lucky winner in a game of cow patty bingo.  The fundraiser will be held July 18th on the lawn of the Haskell County courthouse. 144 squares will be sold for $10 each.

If Buford the bull graces your square with his cow patty, you’ll take home $250 and the knowledge that you’ve helped raise money for victims of family violence in Noah Project’s northern counties.

July 18th will be a day of fun for the whole family. Buford will be roaming the lawn, ABC Greenhouse will have a plant sale to raise money for Noah – North, and more events and activities are in the works.

Only 144 squares are available for the bingo game, and they’re going fast. Reserve yours by calling Noah Project – North at (940) 864-2551.

Stalking behavior takes many forms, but they are all unwanted.

The Department of Justice has released “Stalking Victimization in the United States,” the largest empirical study of stalking to date.

Click here for a .pdf version of the full report, which includes more analysis of the findings, detailed data, and information about the methodology and instruments used in the study.

Some of the interesting results:

5.9 million U.S. residents experienced stalking or harassment in the year prior to the study (for comparison: there were 5.2 million violent crimes committed during that year.)

About 10% of victims were stalked for 5 years or more, and 30% of the victims reported that among their worst fears was being afraid that the stalking would never end.

43% of the stalking victims had been threatened by their stalkers.

Men and women were equally likely to report the stalking to police.

Almost 300,000 were injured by a stalking-related attack. 99% of the victims suffered minor injuries, about 1 in 5 suffered major injuries, and 14% were raped or sexually assaulted.

Rob Patton talked about avoiding violent relationships during the first annual Top Priorities Youth Conference.

Noah Project is proud to have been invited to take part in the first annual Top Priorities Youth Conference.

About 50 young people between the ages of 11 and 17 participated in the conference, which helped them identify and set goals for their lives. Exciting speakers motivated the kids to dream big, and presented practical information about how they can reach those dreams.

Noah Project talked about how to recognize and avoid violent relationships. The conference was held in Wichita Falls, so we worked with First Step. Their Education Coordinator, Chantel Grant, talked about First Step’s services, as well as the importance of not allowing abuse to become a norm in relationships.

Personal and economic empowerment for young people goes hand-in-hand with stopping family violence, and we are honored by the chance to work with partners who are equally committed to helping the next generation avoid relationship violence and live their dreams.

Check out this news video of the conference:  http://texomashomepage.com/content/video/?cid=44571

Ann Hawkins with bags of supplies from Brookhollow Christian Women.

Noah Project would like to thank the Christian Women’s Group at Brookhollow Christian Church, for their generous donation of cosmetics, toiletries, socks, and other essentials for the women and children in the shelter.

Noah Project has helped a lot of clients this summer, and we have a special need right now for:

• Baby formula
• Baby wipes
• Q-Tips

If you would like to donate to Noah Project to help victims of family violence, click here for more information and to find out what we need most right now.

“Ana’s Kits” is a donation idea where people donate buckets of cleaning supplies so former victims will have everything they need to start their new lives in a clean, welcoming home.  Since each of Ana’s Kits is made of many smaller items, it’s a perfect project for Sunday school classes, school groups, or other small organizations that want to work together to make a big difference.

If you’d like more information or you want to donate one of Ana’s Kits, please call us at 676-7107.

Suggested items for each bucket:

• Soaps and cleansers
• A broom and dustpan
• A mop
• Rubber gloves
• Sponges
• Scrub brushes
• Paper towels

Mel felt it was time to move on, having served on Noah’s board for more than 20 years.

Watch this space.