Elks donate to Tri County Safe Harbor
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ESCANABA -- On March 27, Escanaba Elk members Eric Patmythes and Cindy Groleau presented donations to Tri County Safe Harbor, the local domestic violence shelter.
The domestic violence shelter is located in Escanaba and has been in operation since 1982. The current shelter can accommodate 15 residents and contains the Delta County program advocates and help line.
Tri-County Safe Harbor provides services and support for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. There are also outreach offices in Menominee and Schoolcraft counties. Services include temporary emergency housing, crisis advocacy and support, peer group support, a 24-hour sexual assault response team, court support, transportation, and information and referrals when needed. From October 1, 2022 until
September 30, 2023, the shelter had 105 women, 35 children, and 3 men, for a total of 3,482 nights spent in the shelter. Staff answered a total of 815 crisis calls on our 24/7 helpline.
It cost approximately $112 per day per client to house them in the shelter. The Escanaba Elks Lodge was able to use funds from the Beacon grant to assist the shelter with donations from their monthly needs list.
"The biggest things we were able to provide was a new dishwasher, freezer, two bed bug resistant mattresses, and a walking dolly," said Groleau. "We were also able to pay for some carpentry work that needed to be done at the shelter, along with new cookware, bakeware, cooking utensils, safety locks, bathroom items, gift cards, and cleaning supplies."
Elk members Bryce Groleau and Patmythes removed the old freezer from the basement and installed the new freezer at the shelter.
Executive Director of Tri County Safe Harbor Erin Viau expressed how thankful the organization is for the things that the Elks were able to provide with the grant.
"Our annual budget is very tight and so to purchase these much-needed items with our own funds would have meant something else would need to get cut. To know that the Elks support what we do and were able to help us obtain these things is amazing and we are extremely grateful," she said.