For the past 18 months, local domestic violence shelters have been at full capacity, meaning that families fleeing domestic abuse are forced to turn to already-overloaded homeless shelters to escape the harsh winter.  Your end-of-year gift can help these struggling families stay warm, safe and fed this holiday season.

Places like Black Dog Hill Shelter in the morthern metro area provide more than just a safe place to stay; they provide access to essential services for victims of domestic abuse, like counseling, advocacy, and employment and education programs. 

Colette Gandelot and partner Suzanne Butzow donated the 100-year-old farmhouse and 10 peaceful acres of land to The Refuge Network for a safe shelter. “It’s a good place to heal,” said Colette. “We wanted to break the cycle of abuse through our gift.”  United Way provided $250,000 in grants in support of the shelter, a first for battered women in Isanti and Chisago counties.

Learn more about United Way’s work to reduce family violence.