Women of Alle Kiski Engaging distribute items collected for HOPE, HAVIN domestic violence shelters
Inside the box was a sauce pan.
“That one pot could be used to make dinner tonight for a woman and her children who have just fled an unsafe home,” said Laurie Johns, assistant executive director of Helping All Victims in Need (HAVIN), a domestic violence shelter in Kittanning.
Johns stood by her sport utility vehicle Thursday outside the Alle Kiski Strong Chamber office at the Pittsburgh Mills mall in Frazer. The vehicle was filled with boxes that contained the aforementioned pot and other kitchen items, clothing and over-the-counter medications including Tylenol and cough syrup.
“Small things can have the biggest impact,” she said. “It’s overwhelming, the support. All of these items will be put to good use. This is amazing how many people reached into their pockets to give.”
The donations came via a project of the Women of Alle Kiski Engaging (WAKE), which collected essential items for HAVIN and the Alle-Kiski Area HOPE Center in Tarentum.
The items were collected throughout the Alle-Kiski Valley.
For women escaping domestic violence or an abusive relationship, they may have only the clothes on their backs and few necessities, Johns said. That’s why they asked for donations that included over-the-counter medicines; new pajamas for women, boys and girls; new women’s undergarments; $10 gift cards for gasoline; and cutting boards, pots and pans, utensils, dishes, baking sheets, Tupperware and other kitchen items.
WAKE is an endeavor that works in conjunction with the Alle Kiski Strong Chamber of Commerce, an organization that helps area businesses grow through various events, training and educational opportunities. The partnership aims to advance women’s leadership in the local economy through networking, professional development and community engagement, said CiCi Broxie, chairwoman of WAKE and an Alle Kiski Strong Chamber board member.
“We had so many people who wanted to help,” Broxie said. “So many people who reached out to us about what they could do. Look at all the items we collected.”
WAKE has decided to put its speaker series on hold until at least March because of the pandemic. This was a way to help since they can’t meet in person as a group for at least the rest of the year.
“The community support has been amazing,” said Erin Gillette, supervisor of residential services for Alle-Kiski Area HOPE Center. “These items provide hope. That is what our organization is founded on: hope.”
Gillette and Johns agreed the need is greater this year because of covid-19 and the challenging economy. The donations can help fill a void in these women’s lives, they said.
“When you are fleeing your home, you grab your children and maybe some clothes,” Gillette said. “You aren’t thinking of these other things that you might need until you don’t have them. You decide to make a meal for your family, and you don’t have a pot or pan to cook the food in.”
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region's diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of "A Daughter's Promise." She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.
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