On December 2, I'll be part of a team from the Unitarian Society of Northampton and Florence, taking part in this year’s Hot Chocolate Run. This great event raises funds for Safe Passage, an organization addressing domestic violence in Hampshire County, Massachusetts. (You can find out how to join the USNF team here: http://www.uunorthampton.org/bogblog/510-hotchocolaterun2012.html   and join our Facebook group here: http://www.facebook.com/groups/USNFHotChocolateRun)

As a domestic violence survivor, this is an issue very close to my heart. I know that the people who love and support me today would have wanted to move heaven and earth to help me when I needed it—that's why I'm asking people to offer their support to victims who need help today. 

I hope you’ll make a donation (however small or large) to help me meet my fundraising goal. Not only will it help victims of domestic violence, but it will also help me directly in a small way: I have committed to raising at least $200 by November 27th, and if I do so, my own registration fee for the event is waived. What a great deal, right? All it takes is each person doing a small part. 

Safe Passage relies on support from people like us to fund their programming--including an emergency shelter program, individual counseling and support groups, legal services, a 24-hour hotline and more. Here are some examples of what these services cost:

$20: Emergency funds for a woman to purchase groceries or diapers
$45: A one-hour counseling session for a woman seeking help for the first time
$80: One weekly drop-in group session for survivors of domestic violence
$100: An hour of ASL interpreting for a deaf survivor's counseling session
$135: Three sessions for children who have witnessed domestic violence
$500: A month of on-call advocacy for victims of domestic violence police calls

All contributions are tax-deductible, and you’ll receive an emailed receipt immediately after you donate.

Thank you so much for your support!  If you want to register for the event or learn more about it, visit http://hotchocolaterun.com.