THEBEALINE
AswebeginanewyearhereattheWCA,we arefilledwithgratitudeforthesupportwe receivedfromourcommunityduring2024.In thisnewsletteryouwillreadaboutmanyof thewaysourclientsweresupported–which iswhywearesograteful.
Anewyearisconsideredbymanyasatime fornewbeginnings.Forourclients,picking upthephoneandcallingourhotline,or walkingupthestepsintoourCrisisCenter–thatiswhatsignifiesanewbeginning, regardlessofthedateonthecalendar.Their newbeginninghappenswhentheyare readytoengageinthepainfulworkof processingtheirtrauma,breakinghabits andlearningnewskills.
Thisnewbeginningtakesalotofcourage!Theopportunityforsafety, healingandfreedomforthosewhohaveexperienceddomesticabuse andsexualassaultdoesnotfollowanyspecificcalendar.Beinga resourceforourclientswhentheyarereadyisahumblingexperience, madepossiblebyourcommunityofsupporters.Thankstoyou,weare lookingforwardtomanynewbeginningsthroughout2025!
BeaBlack,CEO
SHINING@SHELTER
Aswewavefarewelltothe2024 holidayseason,Iwanttogivea shoutouttoJimandNicolefrom Norcoforprovidingour"theGrinch whoStoleChristmas"Christmas tree--everyonelovedseeingit,and itgotusintotheholidayspiritina veryun-Grinch-yway.
Ialsowanttoappreciatetheboard membersandvolunteersledby LisaUhlmannwhoworkeddiligently tobringamuch-appreciated holidaypartytotheshelter residents.Theyevenconvinceda verybusySantaClaustostaylate foralittlegirlandhermamawho
gotstuckawayfromshelterduringtheparty.Theirkindness,along withthatofthedonorsandvolunteerswhomadetheHoliday Sponsorshipprogrampossible,carriedusthroughwhatwouldhave otherwisebeenadeeplydifficultseasonforourclientswhohavehad theirwholelivesupendedbyintimatepartnerviolence. Ittrulydoestakeavillagetofacilitatehealingandsafetyforthe womenwhocomethroughshelter,andwearefeelingparticularly thankfulforourWCAvillagehereatshelter.
-MackenzieBannister,ResidentialServicesManager
CORPORATEPILLARSPOTLIGHT
BlueCrossofIdahojoinedtheWCA'sCorporatePillarProgramatthevery startin1994.Theyhavenominatedandrecognizedover30TWINsand havebeeninvolvedwithalltheeventsandprogramsourorganizationhas tooffer.
ThislastOctober,theBlueCrossteampartneredwiththeWCAinaspecial waytohighlightDomesticViolenceAwarenessMonth(DVAM).Tostartthe monthstrong,theBlueCrossteamcreatedamassivedisplayforthe ClotheslineProjectandincludedsurvivorstoriesandwaystogetinvolved. Thiscampaigninvolvesdisplayingt-shirts,designedbyWCAclientsasa formofarttherapy,tobringawarenessandsharerealexperiencesfrom thoseweserve.BlueCrosstookpartinthiscampaigninabigway, encouragingconversationsarounddomesticviolence(DV)andshowing supportforsurvivors.
InadditiontotakingpartintheClotheslineProject,BCIsponsoredand participatedinour15thAnnualSueBMemorial5k.Thisrace,createdto rememberthelifeofSusan"SueB"Newby,isoneoftheWCA'slargest outreacheventsandithasgrownexponentiallyinthelast15years.The generosityandsupportfromtheBCIteamplayedahugeroleinthe successofthiseventandwecouldnothavedoneitwithoutthem.
TheWCAteamthanksBlue CrossofIdahoforallthey dotosupportthe communityandweare gratefulfortheamazing partnershiptheyprovideto ourorganization.
-SydLaCoursiere, CorporateRelations Coordinator
VOLUNTEERCORNER
ThankyoutoeveryonewhohelpedmakeHolidaySponsorship successful!HolidaySponsorshipisawayforcommunitymembersto directlyimpactourclientsbyprovidinggiftstomaketheholiday seasonspecial.ThisyearourHolidaySponsorshipProgramandthe HolidayStoreservedover225clients.Nearly70sponsorsparticipated intheprogram,including11CorporatePillars.
OurGivingTreeProgramis anotherwayforcommunity memberstosupporttheworkwe doattheWCA.Thegivingtree programusestagswithneeded in-kinditemswhichareutilizedby ourprogramsordirectlygiftedto clients.Ourgivingtreeprogram wasmassivelysuccessfulthis yearwith314donorsdonatinginkinditems,totaling$78,918.33in fairmarketvalue.Wehadatotal of30wonderfulbusinesseshang givingtreetagsintheirworkplace, includingsixCorporatePillars.We alsohadgivingtreetagsplaced aroundtheicerinkattheGrove Plazaforcommunitymembersto grab.
-CourtneyOtto, VolunteerCoordinator
COMMUNITYENGAGEMENT
The2024HolidaySeasonwasfullofcommunityinvolvement,donation drivesandgenerosity!ThroughoutDecember,theWCAonceagain participatedintheannualAvenuesforHopeHousingChallenge.Thisyear provedtobeahistoricsuccessthankstoourcommunitycomingtogether andexceedingthegoaloffunding120safebednights.
TheStateofHomelessnessinIdaholistedDomesticAbuseasthenumber onecauseofhomelessnessininourstate.FromDecember9ththrough December31st,yoursupportvastlyexceededthegoaloffunding120safe bednights,whileraisingawarenessabouttheundeniablelinkbetween domesticabuseandhomelessness.
PeertoPeerfundraisingprovedtobeanexcitingandpowerfultoolforthis year 'scampaign,providingvitalawarenessandsupport.Withdeep gratitudeandappreciation,weareexcitedtohighlightKing&EdgeReal EstateGroupandtheirPeertoPeersupportthroughoutAvenues! King&EdgehassupportedtheWCAasaCorporatePillarsince2020.They arecommittedtonotjustsellingrealestate,buttohelpcreatesafe homesinourcommunity.Theirteamsuccessfullyraisedatotalof$8,855, securedthrough23uniquedonors.ThankyouKing&Edgeteamforyour enduringsupport,andforactingtopreventhomelessnessinour community!
-ChrisTansey,CommunityEngagementCoordinator
OUTREACHCORNER
Hieveryone,IhopeyouallhadagreatstartintotheNewYear!Aswestep into2025,IwouldliketothanktheOutreachVolunteerswhocontributedto theeffortsofprovidinghealing,safety,andfreedom.Weareso appreciativeofthosewhotakethetimeoutoftheirdaytotalkaboutthe WCAandshareresourcestothosewhomaybeexperiencingdomestic abusewhenapproachinganoutreachtable.Byprovidingalisteningear andhavingthoughtfulconversationswithfolksinthecommunity,youare trulyhelpingmakeadifference.Wetrulycannotdotheworkwedowithout thehelpofyou,fromthebottomofourhearts,thankyou.
IfyouarelookingforwaystocontributetotheworkoftheWCA,it’snever toolatetostartcarryingouroutreachmaterials.Theyarecompletelyfree andwecanevendeliverthemouttoyou.Ifyouhavecheckedoutthe formyou’llnoticewerecentlyupdatedthematerialsweofferfor communitymembers.Wenowoffertwofliersthathavetear-offswithour hotlinenumber,onethatlistsouttheservicesweoffer,andanotherthat asksifanindividualisneedinghelpinsevenlanguages.
Ourlastflierhasabitofinformationabout thedifferenttypesoftrainingand presentationsweoffertoorganizationsfor free.BycarryingWCAoutreachmaterials,you areactivelyhelpingguidethoseindividuals experiencingtraumatowardsalifeofsafety, healing,andfreedom.Orderouroutreach materialshere,andhelpusmakea differenceinourcommunity.
-AleeaBanda,OutreachCoordinator
