Every year thank you notes pour in from the battered women's shelters that receive flowers and gifts through our Mother's Day Flower Project. Here are some of the notes from 2012.
“The flowers, OPI products, and message that you sent to our domestic violence shelter for Mother’s Day were greatly appreciated. The women who stay with us have been abused by their intimate partners. All too often, this abuse involves using children against their mother. The abuser often damages the relationship between a mother and her children, uses the children as tools to manipulate or threaten the mother, or uses tactics to make the mother (or other people) question her ability to parent her children. Your encouragement and gifts on Mother’s Day are especially meaningful to women who may have come to doubt themselves and to feel devalued as mothers because of the abuse they have suffered. Thank you so much for your thoughtfulness.”
-Jessica Blehm, Shelter Coordinator, YWCA Wichita, Wichita, KS
Sylvia J. Jackson, executive director of The Women's Safe House in St. Louis, Mo., holding flowers delivered to the shelter by JWI |
“On behalf of the clients of A Safe Place, I would like to thank JWI for the beautiful flowers and the beauty products. Our advocates spend time with their clients working on the importance of self-care and being kind to themselves. Your thoughtful gifts have given our clients something they can use to pamper themselves, while at the same time letting them know that people are caring about them, thinking about them, and supporting them while they begin to recover from their abuse.”
-Kate Stephan-Cothell, Development and Marketing Coordinator, A Safe Place, Zion, IL
“The residents were delighted. One resident upon receiving the gifts, said ‘this will help me feel beautiful.' That remark to us was a sign of healing. Thank you to your organization, your supporters.”
-Anita Calagna, Metropolitan Center for Women and Children, Jefferson, LA
“It’s wonderful that the women in our shelters are honored in this way— many of them come to us with nothing but hope and courage (which is huge) and your efforts help them to know that this hope and courage are acknowledged and valued. We even had enough OPI products for our second shelter, our transitional housing program, and our support groups. We LOVE JWI!”
-Deborah Shepherd, Executive Director, Family Violence Project, Augusta, ME
"The women were all very touched that they had been remembered on Mother’s Day and were so excited by the nail polish...little niceties such as nail care products are not usually within their budgetary allowances. The flowers were so beautiful, and they even had their own vase! They are still healthy and blooming!”
-Robin, Shelter Advocate, Family Violence Project, Augusta, ME
“The ladies loved them all! And, one of my moms had never received flowers before so was to the moon with excitement.”
-Melanie, Shelter Advocate, Family Violence Project, Augusta, ME
“This was the first time I had received flowers for the women from you and I had no idea how to thank you. The bouquets were beautiful! The messages delivered with the flowers were displayed in the shelter manager's office for all clients to read as they signed in. The flowers are in the lobby and at the sign-in spot for all the women to enjoy as well. Thank you so much for thinking of the mothers here with us.”
-Bobbi Payne, Director of Residential Services, La Paloma de la Paz, San Antonio, TX
“You always make Mother’s Day so much more special for our clients. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”
- Trimmy Stamell, Grants & Special Projects Manager, YWCA Evanston/North Shore, Evanston, IL
“Our shelter residents were very grateful for the beautiful roses; they brought many smiles as I walked in with them.Thank you for your support, and helping to empower the women we serve!”
- Julaine LeDuc, Director of Resource Development, SafeHouse Center, Ann Arbor, MI
“The items (as always!) were so lovely and the flowers really brightened up the shelter space. It is such a gift to our clients and residents to know that they are remembered and cared about/for during a difficult time in their lives. The lovely and thoughtful sentiments that arrive with each gift are heartwarming to the clients and staff alike and we are so grateful for you and for all that you do.”
-Theresa, Sojourner Project, Inc., Hopkins, MN