Task Force honored for efforts on behalf of battered women

Published 1:28 pm Thursday, December 11, 2008

By Brenda Sexton, The Courier-Herald

It was called "Make A Difference Day," and on Oct. 25 Enumclaw's Domestic Violence Task Force volunteers, supported by students from Enumclaw High School and members of the Enumclaw community, turned a confidential South King County battered women's shelter into a place of hope and joy.

Their donations of practical gifts like alarm clocks, comforters and mattresses - along with coveted personal items like pajamas, backpacks and toiletries - were given to the temporary residents at DAWN's House (Domestic Abuse Women's Network) during a "shelter shower." Like a bridal shower or baby shower, women and children at the shelter were treated to a special meal, a little pampering and gifts.

"That two hours at the shelter shower showed us what a huge difference that we've made," said Rena Jansen, an Enumclaw Domestic Violence Task Force advocate.

Enumclaw's Domestic Violence Task Force was among 545 newspaper honorees selected by USA Weekend Magazine for its Make A Difference Day Awards April 16-18. Enumclaw's award was connected to the weekend magazine's local host newspaper, the Tacoma News Tribune.

There were 10 groups awarded $10,000 each from actor and philanthropist Paul Newman for their efforts.

Although Enumclaw was not among the top 10, its volunteers were among the 3 million people across the country who found time to make a difference Oct. 25. Make A Difference Day, in its 13th year, is touted as America's biggest day of volunteering.

Jansen said Enumclaw's group is excited about the award.

"The recognition is outstanding," she said. "But we weren't doing it for the recognition. We were doing it to make a difference."

Jansen said the group knew they were at least going to get mentioned when they were called several times to verify the spelling of Enumclaw.

"It's exciting for us to be acknowledged for it," Jansen said.

Sarah Frerichs, another Domestic Violence Task Force advocate, calls Enumclaw, "the little town that could."

The shelter shower was one of many activities the group planned for October - Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

When a women, and her children, comes to the shelter, they are usually fleeing a lethal situation and have left everything behind. With funding resources minimal, the shelters turn to groups like Enumclaw's task force to help replenish the shelter with items those victims can take with them to transitional housing because they can't go home.

This time, the task force in turn turned to the high school and community.

Items on October's "wish list" included everything from a washer and dryer for the shelter, which the Enumclaw Rotary and Fred's Appliance Service Center teamed up to supply, to nail polish for young girls to make themselves feel better.

Drop boxes set up at local businesses were collection sites for everyday items needed by shelter users. The task force used local media and other avenues to get the word out for donations to community members. Everything was loaded up and taken to the shelter shower.

Jansen said the community's response was overwhelming.

"The day of the shower those women were so excited," Jansen said.

Jansen said group members definitely felt they made a difference that day, but over the long term the difference in the attitude and support of the community is a great achievement.

"I continue to get phone calls from people that want to do different things as a direct result of the shelter shower," she said. "It was very successful from all standpoints."

The high school students, she noted, were a big plus to the program.

"There were some kids at the high school who really took it on and were enthusiastic," she said.

Brenda Sexton can be reached at bsexton@courierhearld.com