November 1, 2023

Hello Friends!

As the autumn leaves turn golden, Rise Up 2 Thrive finds itself at a pivotal moment as Domestic Violence Awareness month is wrapping up. It is a time to not only educate and raise awareness but provide the opportunity to offer support and strength for victims of domestic violence. October also serves as a time to celebrate our progress and connect with others working to create change. We have learned so much over the past year and continue to be surprised and delighted with the support that Valley County has extended. We just wrapped up our 2nd Annual Fighting for Change event in Cascade and are so grateful to everyone that showed up and supported our cause. From the volunteers who ran the show and the people who gave of their time for the event planning, to our generous donors for the raffle, silent, and live auction items, our sponsors, the incredible music and the beautiful venue, the list just goes on and on… we want to say thank you! RU2T just celebrated one year of providing a record number of services within our Valley County community. Over the last 12 months we have worked with more than 140 individuals that have been affected by violence, assisted in eighteen domestic violence/sexual assault exams, accompanied numerous civil and criminal cases and twenty outreach events educating numerous community members and friends.

Most individuals don’t realize how domestic violence affects the lives of those experiencing it. They don’t understand the stigma and challenges that accompany this type of abuse. Contacting RU2T is often the most challenging step that victims will take when they have made the choice to leave a violent relationship. We know that this is the most dangerous time for them and their families because they have identified the abuse and brought an outside party into the midst of a “private” issue. Understanding the dynamics of domestic violence is critical when collaborating with a client that is in crisis so that appropriate assistance can be provided. Often the victim shows a wide range of emotions like someone grieving and we attempt to return a sense of normalcy back into their lives with our services.

Because you have supported us and given us confidence, we are so excited to announce that we will be moving into a new space in Cascade that will be ideal for victims, their children, our community, law enforcement, and other key partners. This space will serve many purposes outlined below:

• We will have an inviting playroom for children to feel safe while their parent is able to share their story and needs. This allows for the parents to openly communicate and express emotions without exposing the children to any more traumatic experiences or conversations.

• Having a working kitchen will provide a means to prepare emergency food

• More space will help us store clothing, personal hygiene items and blankets which are often needed because victims must leave without their personal belongings.

• The space will allow for law enforcement to interview the victim in a safe space away from their home

• We will be able to facilitate and provide training for the victims, their families, and the offenders

• We hope to create a library of information and resources

• Most importantly we will have a comfortable, safe place for victims and their children to be housed while determining next steps for managing their situations.

We are always looking for volunteers, so if you want to be a part of making a change in your community, please reach out to us. Raising your voice against domestic violence, speaking up, offering a helping hand to those in need is how we fulfill our mission statement of being committed to inspiring change, so we can support a thriving, respectful community. Together, we can create a safer world by breaking the cycle of abuse!