The following guest column was submitted by Turning Point
In this season of thanksgiving, we at Turning Point would like to share a few things for which we give thanks. We continuously speak to others about the generosity of our community, not just during the holiday season, but throughout the entire year.
With every donation we receive, we are thankful for those who have more than enough to give. We understand the economy has been rough on everyone and our agency has also learned to live and work with fewer resources. This has caused some services to change but our focus remains the same. Our mission since 1977 is “to respond to the needs of domestic violence victims” and that mission still rings true today.
We are thankful for small and large things alike, from paper towels to local food drives. We are thankful for rolls of toilet paper, bottles of shampoo, canned goods, and diapers. When was the last time you actively thought about being thankful for toilet paper? It may seem trivial to some, but to us, these donated items allow us to spend our money in other ways such as utility bills or shelter maintenance.
We give thanks to those who had the foresight to start Concerned Citizens Against Violence Against Women, Inc. (our official name) and paved the way for those who continued advocating through the years. We are thankful to those who helped us into the Church Street shelter and those who were integral in the purchase of our current facility on Barks Road. We would like to thank our current and past Board members who allow our mission to continue.
We are also thankful for every dollar that we receive as a United Way agency. Every dollar matters. If you chose to give to United Way or directly to Turning Point, thank you for your donation. This money is kept locally and that is not always a given in this global economy.
Most importantly, we are thankful for every brave caller on our hotline and every staff member who is willing to listen with compassion to someone in pain. At Turning Point, we are aware that leaving an abusive relationship is the most vulnerable and most dangerous time for a victim. We are thankful for those who take that heroic step and become free from violence and we are here to help you through this tumultuous time.
Like everyone, we can get caught up in the hectic holiday season and must take time to remember the little things. If you have a place to live and people who love you, be thankful. If you come home and feel safe, be thankful. If you are free to express yourself without fear of physical violence, be thankful.
Turning Point is the local domestic violence shelter program that serves Delaware, Crawford, Marion, Morrow, Union, and Wyandot counties. We provide shelter, food, transportation, individual and group support, victims’ rights advocacy, in-school prevention education, children’s programming, transitional housing and community education.
We are located at 330 Barks Road West in Marion, Ohio. Turning Point is funded by United Way and the Delaware-Morrow Mental Health and Recovery Services Board. If anyone needs assistance, they may call the crisis line at 740-382-8988 or 1-800-232-6505. Turning Point is also online at www.turningpoint6.org.
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