‘Giving Thanks’ in November can be a life-giving gesture for domestic abuse survivors

November is often thought of as a time for giving thanks — a time when families and friends gather to share stories over home-cooked meals and soak in the love and comfort of those around us. It’s also a time when many of us reflect on the past year and thank those individuals who have helped us through their kindness and support.

For those of us at OASIS Family Resource Center in Cadillac, the month of November provides an opportunity to give gratitude to our community partners and share a reminder of the ever-increasing need to support domestic abuse victims and survivors.

OASIS is a nonprofit shelter and support service established in 1984. We provide services that empower survivors of domestic violence, sexual violence and human trafficking, and give them the assistance they need to break free from the abuse in their lives. Many of those we serve are children caught in the domestic violence storm between adults they know and love. Their pain is palpable and without the efforts of our dedicated staff, many likely would remain trapped in an atmosphere of violence, fear and sadness.

According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, roughly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner. 1 in 4 women and 1 in 9 men experience severe intimate partner physical violence, sexual violence, or partner stalking with injury. In 2022, the Michigan State Police reported 64,545 domestic violence offenses were committed in our state by current or former intimate partners. The frequency of abuse is staggering among minority populations. More than four in five American Indian and Alaska Native women and men have experienced violence in their lifetime, while 45 percent of Black women and 40 percent of Black men experience intimate partner abuse. The numbers clearly demonstrate a need for support services that we’re proud to deliver.

For us, giving thanks includes recognizing the DTE Energy Foundation for its annual grant to 45 state-funded domestic violence shelters in Michigan. This year’s support of $420,000 brings the Foundation’s total commitment to more than $2.6 million over the past five years. The funding will be used to offer survivor-centric services that include housing, transportation, employment and support for survivors who need help with healthcare needs or are struggling to navigate the criminal justice system. Many of the people who come to our shelter have nothing but the clothes on their backs, so we are grateful for the kindness of DTE Foundation and all the philanthropic organizations that fuel our day-to-day operations.

Still, the frequency of abuse continues to grow and the need for services always exceeds our capacity. So, we’re asking you to consider supporting your local domestic violence shelter this Giving Tuesday, November 28. Your tax-deductible contribution could truly be a “life-giver” for adults or children overwhelmed by the abuse of another.

Sara Shields

Executive Director

Cadillac Area OASIS Family Resource Center

Domestic violence shelters eligible to receive DTE Foundation grants

1. Catherine Cobb Safe House, Adrian

2. Hope Shores Alliance, Alpena

3. SafeHouse Center, Ann Arbor

4. S.A.F.E. Place, Battle Creek

5. Bay Area Women’s Center, Bay City

6. Children and Family Services of Southwestern Michigan/Safe Shelter, Inc., Benton Harbor

7. Women’s Information Service, Inc., Big Rapids

8. Cadillac Area Oasis Cadillac

9. Barbara Kettle Gundlach Shelter, Calumet

10. HDC/Thumb Area Assault Crisis Center, Caro

11. Branch County Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Coldwater

12. YWCA of Metropolitan Detroit/Interim House, Detroit

13. Alliance Against Violence and Abuse, Escanaba

14. YWCA of Greater Flint/SAFE House, Flint

15. YWCA of West Central Michigan, Grand Rapids

16. River House, Grayling

17. Domestic Harmony, Hillsdale

18. Resilience, Holland

19. LACASA, Howell

20. RAVE — Ionia/Montcalm

21. Caring House, Inc., Iron Mountain

22. DOVE, Ironwood

23. AWARE, Jackson

24. YWCA of Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo

25. Baraga County Shelter Home, L’Anse

26. End Violent Encounters (EVE), Lansing

27. Lapeer Area Citizens Against Domestic Assault, Lapeer

28. Communities Overcoming Violent Encounters, Ludington

29. CHOICES of Manistee County, Manistee

30. Women’s Center/Harbor House, Marquette

31. Shelterhouse/Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, Midland

32. Family Counseling and Shelter Services of Monroe County, Monroe

33. Turning Point, Mt. Clemens

34. RISE, Mt. Pleasant

35. Every Woman’s Place, Muskegon

36. Women’s Resource Center of Northern Michigan, Petoskey

37. First Step, Plymouth

38. HAVEN, Pontiac

39. Blue Water Safe Horizons, Port Huron

40. Underground Railroad, Saginaw

41. Anishnaabek Community and Family Services, Sault Ste. Marie

42. Diane Peppler Resource Center, Sault Ste. Marie

43. SafeCenter, St. Johns

44. Domestic and Sexual Abuse Services, Three Rivers

45. Women’s Resource Center Grand Traverse Area, Traverse City

Sara Shields is the Executive Director of Cadillac OASIS Family Resource Center.

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