Recently at a Lynn Rotary dinner meeting Julie Gerraughty the Director of Development for the North Shore chapter of HAWC (Healing Abuse Working for Change) spoke about its mission. For almost 40 years HAWC has been helping the abused in the North Shore area of Massachusetts. Whether we know it or not, we all know someone who is or has been abused. Prior to the meeting she asked members if we could donate items frequently needed by abused who make use of a safe house. Items such as: sheets, pillowcases; towels; and fleece throws. All items their clients can use when they no longer need the services of HAWC. Rotary members were quite generous.
She shared the following with the members:
Their Mission is to create social change by taking action against personal and societal patterns of violence and oppression.
HAWC provides services to survivors of domestic abuse residing in 23 cities and towns on Massachusetts’ North Shore in order that they may make informed, independent decisions about their futures.
HAWC (Healing Abuse Working for Change, formerly known as Help for Abused Women and Their Children) strives to help abused women, children, men, and nonbinary people live free from violence and fear. As a leading domestic abuse agency in Massachusetts, HAWC provides a domestic abuse helpline, emergency shelter, legal services, advocacy and counseling services to more than 2,500 families in the North Shore area each year. Beyond providing this help, HAWC advocates for social and cultural change. With one in three women and one in four men experiencing abuse each year, domestic abuse is an epidemic. To raise awareness and bolster prevention efforts, HAWC supplies the public with education, volunteer opportunities, annual community events, and frequent updates on related news and legislation.