Community comes together to support SAFE Harbor
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RONAN – People packed into the Ronan Community Center to raise funds to help support the work being done by SAFE Harbor again this year on Saturday evening with dinner and a few auctions.
“This event is so successful every year due to the support from the community,” said DeeAnn Richardson, SAFE Harbor executive director said. “We couldn’t do this without them.”
For the auction, several original pieces of art were donated and businesses and individuals contributed other items. Volunteers helped organize the event and serve up the dinner.
Dana Grant with SAFE Harbor stood on the stage above the crowd. He said: “How does all this happen in one night – with help.” He thanked everyone for volunteering, including the artists.
Artists Olivia Olsen and Juanita Small Salmon were painting pictures to be auctioned off during the event. Olsen was developing a portrait of a horse on real barn wood, and Small Salmon was painting a landscape featuring a teepee. “We do this to support a good cause,” Olsen said with a paintbrush in her hand.
SAFE Harbor provides shelter, safety, nurturing advocacy, financial support and healing to the survivors of domestic violence and others in need. They also help people seeking relief from dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. All services are free of charge. According to their annual service statistics, SAFE Harbor has taken more than 2,800 crisis line calls, provided 2,200 shelter nights, 150 plus clients with emergency financial aid, 300 plus people with emergency transportation, and 250 instances of legal advocacy.
Richardson said affordable housing was the biggest challenge the majority of people utilizing services face with most of them being women with children. She said donations are accepted at any time during the year and towels and furniture are always needed.
She said funding for SAFE Harbor comes from federal and state grants, but some of the funding comes with requirements. “We have to raise matching money and show community support to receive it,” she said. “Our goal is to make $50,000. We sometimes reach that.”
For people that need help, SAFE Harbor has a 24-hour crises line at 406-676-0800. Richardson said people can call the number and an advocate will talk to them about resources and a plan. The advocate helps keep a person’s name anonymous if needed. A person can be checked into a hotel using the SAFE Harbor name instead of their own.
“We try and help with anything and everything they need to be safe, including shelter, gas, food, and clothes,” she said.
More information about SAFE Harbor is available at www.safeharbormt.org, including a list of warning signs for domestic violence. A link to donate to the program is also available on the site.
