Quiet is not Peace.
On May 31, 2009, a 56-year-old woman was shot by her 55-year-old boyfriend at a Philadelphia bar at closing time. He then turned the gun on himself.
Another voice lost.
Last year, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, there were 144 domestic violence fatalities. This represented a 19 percent increase over the prior year. Across Pennsylvania and the nation, domestic abuse and violence continues to threaten to silence the voices of women, men, and children. One in four women will experience domestic violence within her lifetime. One in four adolescents, girls and boys, will experience violence in a dating relationship before graduating from high school. Such statistics reflect the insidious nature of domestic violence. A Woman’s Place is committed to being the voice and hope for these victims, their families, and the community.
Quiet is the sound of fear… hiding from uncontrolled anger.
On August 3, 2009, a 68-year-old woman was shot by her 70-year-old husband in their Springettsbury Township home. The victim had locked herself in the basement and called 911 to say that she feared for her life. Responding police went inside the home and then they heard gunshots. They left the home, waited a few minutes, then entered to find the victim dead. The perpetrator had committed suicide.
Another voice lost.
Last year, A Woman’s Place experienced an 11 percent increase in the provision of services to victims of domestic violence: 3,514 new victims were served; 77 families, including 101 children, were housed in the emergency shelter; 4,311 crisis calls were answered on the 24-hour hotline. As the only domestic violence organization in Bucks County, A Woman’s Place faces challenges head on. We see it every day – in the requests for food and clothing as families struggle to survive… in rising tensions as the economy further squeezes already strained family dynamics… in the funding cuts that threaten core services to those in our community with some of the greatest needs. Our mission to end intimate and familial violence for all is bold and comprehensive and demands a tenacious spirit. It is our job to ensure that members of the Bucks County community do not lose their voice. Please join me in ensuring voices are heard with a contribution of $25, $50, or even more by clicking here. Even better, our monthly pledge program allows you to give regularly in increments of any amount, boldly sustaining the A Woman’s Place and Bucks County voices throughout the year.
Quiet is pain that takes your breath away so you can’t scream.
On June 7, 2009, a 71-year-old woman was found dead in her home, sitting in her motorized wheelchair, strangled by a guitar string. Her 45-year-old son, who lived in her Swatara Township home with her, was charged with homicide.
Another voice lost.
Domestic abuse and violence does not discriminate and can happen to anyone. A Woman’s Place provides a full range of assistance and support services for victims of domestic abuse and violence and their children, including a free 24-hour confidential hotline, a full-service residential shelter, individual and group counseling, legal and medical advocacy, and a children’s program. As domestic violence is a community issue, requiring community effort and support to successfully eradicate, A Woman’s Place also provides comprehensive community-based domestic violence training, education, outreach, and advocacy. Last year, A Woman’s Place delivered prevention education programs to 10,688 adults and youth in Bucks County. It is these services and your support that ensure that there will always be a voice in Bucks County.
Quiet is the child who will not speak.
July 21, 2009, a 10-year-old boy and his 9-year-old brother were killed in a house fire set by their 40-year-old father in Scranton. On July 3, the perpetrator had threatened to kill the boys’ mother and the boys by burning down the house with them in it. The boys’ mother and a third son, 12-years-old, suffered injuries and survived. The boys’ mother had a Protection from Abuse Order against the perpetrator.
Two more voices lost.
A Woman’s Place is committed to being the voice - for those who have been silenced and those desperately seeking to not lose their voice. We want and need you to join us in being the voice for victims of domestic violence, their families, and the community… because quiet is not peace. I thank you, in advance, for your generous contribution and support.
Nothing can keep peace quiet. Please, Be The Voice.
With Deepest Appreciation,
Donna J. Byrne
Executive Director
