Quarterly Letter from our Director:
After a busy summer of having a full shelter and high demand for our services, it is great to take some time to sit back and reflect on successes and challenges of our programs and clients. In my position I often wonder the best way to convey to our supporters the massive difference they are making every day. Due to our need for confidentiality we can’t send out an email that says: today on July 11th a mother with three children came to our shelter, and with tears in her eyes said “thank you so much, you just saved our lives”. We can’t write the numerous true stories of women who have survived the unimaginable, and how over time we have the honor of watching them begin to smile again, to laugh, to speak their truth, and move forward to live a life free of abuse. It is a difficult journey that is often filled with heartbreak, courage, and grace. What has become so apparent in my first six months here is that HAVEN is not an isolated organization. Our organization operates and our clients succeed because of integral relationships with our caring donors, volunteers, organizations, and businesses. We truly are a community grassroots organization.
Because of this cooperation and collaboration, we share the successes of our programs and clients with the community that helped make it possible. Every “like” on our Facebook page, every visit to our website, every mention of our work to a friend is bolstering a movement, starting a wave of awareness which promotes respect and non-violence. I am honored to be part of this movement and watching it gain momentum is encouraging for me and my staff. Thank you for standing with us.
I am pleased to welcome three new members to the HAVEN Board of Directors: Carrie Wasserburger, attorney with Wittich Law Firm, Diane Letendre, MSU Human Resources, and Bozeman Police Chief Ron Price. We say a huge thank you to our outgoing board members, Martha Sellers, Tracy Fairbanks, and Cheryl Anderson. Over their three year term, their guidance and leadership have been invaluable and we are truly grateful for their dedication and commitment to this cause.
This month we look forward to celebrating Domestic Violence Awareness Month and HAVEN’s birthday on October 18th as the organization begins its 33rd year of service to Gallatin Valley. In the coming months we will continue to build relationships with our most caring individuals and businesses to ensure that the doors to our shelter remain open for another 33 years.
Kristy McFetridge
HAVEN Executive Director