September 29, 2025 • 16 mins
We share what the Crisis Center does each day to keep survivors safe—from 24/7 advocacy to a confidential shelter now delivering roughly 9,300 bed nights a year—and why outreach, staffing, and community support are crucial. We also unveil the Clothesline Project at Manhattan Town Center and invite help for the holidays through gifts, volunteers, and essentials.
• what our safe shelter and advocacy services include
• the rise from 2,500 to about 9,300 bed nights
• police co-response and why immediate advocacy matters
• barriers survivors face and how outreach meets them
• Domestic Violence Awareness Month and the Clothesline Project
• holiday needs for families in shelter and in the community
• how to help through gifts, volunteering, and essentials
• funding reality across grants, donations, and year-end giving
Please come to the Clothesline Project opening reception Monday, October 20, 5:30–7:30 p.m., at Manhattan Town Center; display runs October 20–24. Visit www.thecriscenterinc.org to volunteer, view in-kind needs, and join our Christmas bureau; our year-end mailing is the one time we ask the community to give if they can.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_01 (00:00):
Philanthropy Today is brought to you by the Greater
Manhattan Community Foundation.
In this episode, we feature arecently broadcast segment of
the GMCF Community Hour, asheard on News Radio KMAN.
We are back with the GMCFCommunity Hour here on News
Radio KMAN.
Kathy Ray is back.
Hello, my friend.
SPEAKER_00 (00:20):
Good morning.
How good to be here on a Monday?
SPEAKER_01 (00:23):
On a Monday.
It's good to be anywhere on aMonday, bro.
SPEAKER_00 (00:26):
This is true.
This is true.
SPEAKER_01 (00:27):
There's a couple places I think I'd rather be,
but you know, this is always funbecause it gets the week for me.
It really gets it started.
SPEAKER_00 (00:33):
Well, and we get to talk about a lot of great
things.
So it's good to catch up.
SPEAKER_01 (00:38):
We've been we've become really good friends, and
it's and and yeah, it's it'sneat to see, you know, our
individual lives where they go.
We always get to catch up.
SPEAKER_00 (00:48):
So absolutely.
Absolutely.
SPEAKER_01 (00:50):
Yeah.
Well, Crisis Center.
Let's talk a bit about what youdo there.
Let's just lead it off withthat.
SPEAKER_00 (00:57):
Okay.
Well, so the Crisis Center, uh,many may not be familiar with
us.
We provide um advocacy servicesto victims and survivors of
domestic violence, sexualassault, and their family.
So we're most known, I think,for our safe shelter, uh, which
serves as a safe haven forvictims who are needing to flee
(01:21):
abuse and violence in their ownhome.
And so uh we have a safeshelter, a confidential safe
shelter where families can staywith us as long as they need
while they are safe and whilethey rebuild their lives after
escaping abuse and violence intheir own homes.
And so we have our safe shelter,but then we have a number of
services, everything fromsupport groups, assistance with
(01:45):
court, um, help with uh lawenforcement.
We have police response advocacyprogram where we co-respond with
the Riley County PoliceDepartment to every domestic
violence call that occurs inRiley County.
So we have a number of servicesthat are really just meant to
help people who are experiencingabuse and violence in their life
(02:07):
to figure out what they want tohave happen, what they need to
have happen to be safe.
And um lots of different thingscome with that.
So our advocates provide that.
And we're a 24-hour serviceagency.
And so anytime someone needs usday or night, we're there and
ready to respond.
SPEAKER_01 (02:23):
You've had some significant developments in the
last couple of years.
SPEAKER_00 (02:27):
Yes, we have.
We have grown.
SPEAKER_01 (02:30):
Which unfortunately.
SPEAKER_00 (02:31):
Unfortunately, yes.
SPEAKER_01 (02:32):
But but I mean, you are able to do more because
you're responding to the need.
SPEAKER_00 (02:37):
Yes, yes, we are.
Um, we are able to do more andrespond to the need that is here
in Manhattan and Riley County.
Um, we've done a lot of workover the last four years.
Uh, most notably, we built abrand new safe shelter.
Uh, we moved into that in 2022,which gave us more space uh to
house more people.
(02:57):
Um, that shelter is full almostall the time.
Last year we provided about9,300 bed nights in our safe
shelter in 2024.
And so um, you know, that's alot more than what we used to do
in our old shelter.
So with that comes the need formore advocates uh to serve
people and just um better meetpeople's needs.
SPEAKER_01 (03:18):
Yeah.
Well, you know, with that newlocation, I know that that was
just an answer to a lot ofprayers for you guys.
And it was.
And, you know, it's theunfortunate thing is that you
had 9,300 bed nights.
SPEAKER_00 (03:32):
Yes.
Yes.
That's a lot.
SPEAKER_01 (03:34):
That seems like a lot.
SPEAKER_00 (03:35):
It is a lot.
And you know, we do not have astay limit at our uh safe
shelter.
So someone can stay with us aslong as they need to while they
work on their goals.
They get to define those goals.
And while they work with anadvocate on that, um, you know,
our average stay right now isabout 45 days.
So people are it is taking alittle bit longer for people to
(03:57):
get back on their feet.
Um, and if you think aboutdomestic violence and everything
that comes with that, there is alot of economic abuse.
There is a lot of um maybe theperson wasn't allowed to work.
So they don't have a jobhistory, they don't have job
skills.
So you're really starting fromthe point at which they need to
start to rebuild their life.
(04:18):
It's really hard if you're amother of three and you haven't
worked in 10 years, right?
You haven't had to figure outhow to pay rent, how to, you
know, do these day-to-day thingson your own as independent.
And so it does take time tofigure all those different
pieces out and get people on theright track so that um, you
(04:38):
know, long-term stability isreally what we're we're helping
people achieve.
SPEAKER_01 (04:44):
Compare 2025 to date with 20.
When did you start 2019?
SPEAKER_00 (04:52):
I started uh in October of 2021.
Yes.
SPEAKER_01 (04:56):
Compare the number of bed nights that you have now
to when you first started.
SPEAKER_00 (05:03):
When I first started, we were doing about
2500 uh 2500 a year.
Wow.
So a significant increase, yeah.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (05:11):
Do you think that that is largely because you have
a larger facility?
Or is that because you know, Imean, I'm sure that there's a
number of things that come intoplay with this.
SPEAKER_00 (05:25):
Yes, there are.
There are.
And that is part of it is havinga larger facility, being able to
house more people on any givennight.
Um, we also have more advocates,so we've increased our staffing
since I've started.
Once we get fully staffed, we'veadded about 10 full-time
positions over the years to dovarious things.
Um, the other thing we're doingmore of is outreach.
(05:48):
So if people don't know how tofind us, you know, that's really
a missed opportunity.
And people all the time ask, youknow, what what do you do at the
crisis center?
We save lives.
That's what we do.
And when somebody calls us, ifwe don't have someone to
respond, that is a life, life ordeath matter, right?
And so we've added the advocatesto really be able to provide
(06:11):
those services to people, butwe've also added, like, a
community engagementcoordinator, for example.
We need people to know how toget in touch with us.
We need to get our informationout there so that when somebody
is experiencing isolation,abuse, violence in their
relationship, that they know howto reach out for help.
Um, people who are victims ofdomestic violence, it's hard for
(06:35):
them to get access toinformation.
Their internet usage may bemonitored, their odometer
reading on their car may bemonitored, you know, um, all of
these different things that makeit difficult to get them
information.
So we try a number of differentavenues to get our word out,
whether that's social media, uh,different community fairs,
events, things like that.
(06:56):
Um, so we've done a lot more ofthat as well, which I think also
increases the numbers.
And people will do ask, youknow, is more domestic violence
occurring in our community?
Um, and I would say, you know,uh it's it's definitely there
are different societal factorsthat make it worse, make the
(07:21):
abuse escalate and um makethings worse for victims and
survivors.
And so we we do see more aroundthose times as well.
SPEAKER_01 (07:30):
The month of October is domestic violence awareness
month.
SPEAKER_00 (07:33):
Yes.
SPEAKER_01 (07:34):
Sometimes a month is not long enough.
SPEAKER_00 (07:36):
That's true.
SPEAKER_01 (07:38):
Because it is uh it's a 12-month a year.
It is, yes, 365 and a quarter.
Yeah, 24-7 deal.
SPEAKER_00 (07:45):
Right.
Absolutely.
SPEAKER_01 (07:47):
You have a project, and I and is this new?
SPEAKER_00 (07:51):
Yes.
SPEAKER_01 (07:51):
The clothesline project.
Tell us about this.
SPEAKER_00 (07:54):
Yes.
So we are bringing a newsurvivor art installation um to
Manhattan uh for the month ofOctober uh to raise awareness in
Domestic Violence AwarenessMonth.
And the Clothesline Project, itwas developed in, I believe, the
early 90s uh in Massachusetts.
And it is a nationwide umawareness initiative now.
(08:17):
But the shirts that are in theclothesline project.
So the clothesline project is ais an art installation of shirts
that are created, designed,developed by victims and
survivors, uh, by family membersor friends of someone who's
maybe lost someone to domesticviolence, um, or the community
(08:38):
itself can create these shirtsthat then go into the
clothesline project.
So the clothesline project, um,you know, for victims and
survivors, it really is a toolof healing for them to be able
to create this shirt to um saywhat they want to say about the
issue or maybe their ownexperience.
Um, and then these shirts, theyliterally hang on a clothesline
(09:01):
and they raise awareness for thecommunity.
Um, they all have differentmessages.
You know, for example, I'mmyself and my daughter were
creating one for my cousin whowas murdered when I was a
teenager by her fiance.
So we're creating one in memoryof her to be added to the
clothesline project.
And yeah, so it's reallyintended to create um awareness
(09:22):
in the community, but also givea voice to victims and survivors
and and can be a powerful toolof healing and to let them know
that they're not alone.
SPEAKER_01 (09:30):
Give us some of the details, the where, the when,
and yes.
SPEAKER_00 (09:34):
So we are um launching the closed line
project.
We're having a communityreception that's open to the
public.
Uh, we'll have lightrefreshments, uh, we'll have
different community leadersspeaking.
And that is gonna be Monday,October 20th.
That's at the Manhattan TownCenter from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
So we hope that the uh communitywill come out.
(09:55):
Um, and that is the openingreception.
And then the actual display willbe on and available to the
public at the Manhattan TownCenter from October 20th through
the 24th.
So it'll be on display for aweek.
SPEAKER_01 (10:09):
Well, it's great that we have an opportunity in a
in a nice location to be able toshare that.
SPEAKER_00 (10:16):
So they've been very supportive of us uh the
Manhattan Town Center, and we'vedone past events there, uh,
displays for Domestic ViolenceAwareness Month.
And so um, this is the firsttime we're doing the closed line
project.
We had a shirt making event thislast Saturday, and we're
starting to get those shirts in.
And I know it's gonna be very,very moving and powerful uh for
(10:37):
the community to see.
So please come out and join uson October 20th at 5 30 p.m.
at the mall.
SPEAKER_01 (10:43):
Okay.
All right.
Let's talk a bit about somethingthat I mean, we are getting into
the fourth quarter.
SPEAKER_00 (10:49):
Yes.
SPEAKER_01 (10:50):
The fourth quarter, you know, we think about a lot
of different things.
You know, there's always, youknow, the financial aspects, you
know, because you know, that'show we do business.
Right.
But the fourth quarter is uh,you know, filled with holidays.
It is very special holidays.
And for some during the holidayseason, it ain't so fun.
SPEAKER_00 (11:11):
Right.
Yeah, yeah, unfortunately.
And, you know, nobody ever wantsto find themselves living in a
shelter over the holidays atChristmas morning, right?
Or at Thanksgiving even.
And so, you know, we try to makethe holidays extra special for
the people that we serve, bothin terms of um making it as
normal as possible, um,celebrating holidays if they
(11:34):
choose, if that's part of theirtraditions.
Um, but it really does take awhole community to make that
happen.
And so, you know, being that theholidays are a time of giving,
we do, this is the time of yearwhere we do ask for that extra
support from our community inwhatever ways that they can
support uh victims and survivorsthrough the holidays.
You know, if if someone's in ourshelter, you know, we've we've
(11:57):
got to provide Christmas,basically.
Um, we've got to provide theThanksgiving meal, all of those
different things that come withthat.
But we also have a lot of peoplethat in our community who aren't
in our shelter that we'reserving, but also need that
assistance.
Um, that maybe they're stillliving in the home where the
abuse is occurring, maybethey're still living with an
(12:18):
abusive partner, and um tonavigate that with their
children is difficult.
It is, it is difficult.
And um, people usually have timeoff for the holidays.
So they're spending more timetogether around the abusive
person.
And it's there's a lot that goesinto that.
And so we do uh try to do a lotat the crisis center to make
this a normal time for peopleand and engage our community to
(12:41):
help us do that.
SPEAKER_01 (12:44):
How can people help with that?
SPEAKER_00 (12:46):
Well, there are a number of ways.
Um each year we have a Christmasbureau where um we solicit gifts
and items for the people that weserve to for the actual presents
that they're gonna use onChristmas.
Um so people can contact us toget involved in our Christmas
bureau.
We have um we need volunteers.
(13:08):
We're always in need ofvolunteers, whether that be at
the safe shelter.
Uh, we have a group that comesand decorates the shelter for
Christmas.
Um that's those kinds of thingsare what tells victims and
survivors that they're notalone, that our community is
here to support them.
When they see those volunteersat our shelter, um, when they
(13:29):
see that people care enough tocome decorate, you know, to make
it feel as normal as possible,those send a message of healing
to the people that are receivingthat.
And so volunteers are alwaysneeded.
And on our website, um,www.thecriscenterinc.org, um,
(13:50):
there's a number of volunteeropportunities, and we'll be
adding to that as we get intomore into the holiday season.
We also have an in-kind donationpage on our website.
So I always tell people imaginewhat it's like to have a house
of 40 people.
How much toilet paper would yougo through?
How much laundry detergent wouldyou go through?
That's though, that's basicallywhat we need.
(14:11):
Um, when we say our services arefree, that's down to the basic
necessities (14:15):
food, deodorant, laundry detergent, all of those
things that you need uh day today, we also provide that.
And we really rely on ourcommunity.
So October Domestic ViolenceAwareness Month is a great time
to do donation drives for thecrisis center.
So if anybody's part of a groupor a club, um, you know, we've
(14:36):
we've sort of noticed a decreaseof our our in-kind donations.
And I think things like theeconomy and you know, challenges
that people are everybody'sfacing.
SPEAKER_01 (14:46):
There are a lot of organizations out there that are
in need of money.
SPEAKER_00 (14:48):
Yeah, money.
SPEAKER_01 (14:49):
And it is all right.
It's very competitive.
SPEAKER_00 (14:52):
Absolutely.
Absolutely.
Unfortunately.
Yeah.
And so, you know, there's a lotof ways to get involved.
We do a holiday mailing at theend of the year.
That's uh the one time where weask our community to give if
they can in terms of uh givingmoney, because, you know, it's a
certain percentage of our budgetis reliant on donations.
(15:15):
We are grant funded, both stateand federal grant funded, um,
but that's not our whole budget,right?
So we have an annual budget ofabout 2.6 million between our
whole service area, includingour safe shelter and what that
takes to operate.
Um, you know, we have threelocations and about 40 staff.
So it's it's a bigger operationthan I think what people realize
(15:38):
because it happens behind thescenes.
It's intended to happen behindthe scenes.
It's intended to be confidentialfor people's safety.
Um, but yeah, but there's a lotof ways people can get involved
in the holidays.
SPEAKER_01 (15:51):
Her name is Kathy Ray.
She's the executive director ofthe Crisis Center, the
CrisisCenter Inc.org, is whereyou can find out more.
Always a delight to have you in.
SPEAKER_00 (16:01):
Thank you so much, David.
Good luck with your event and uhlooking forward to I'll try to
drop.
SPEAKER_01 (16:09):
We'll be back with uh Jaina Yukurzenko coming in
next to give us an idea on somethings that are happening in the
community here on the GMCFCommunity Hour here on News
Radio K M A N.
Philanthropy Today is brought to you by the Greater
Manhattan Community Foundation.
In this episode, we feature arecently broadcast segment of
the GMCF Community Hour, asheard on News Radio KMAN.
We are back with the GMCFCommunity Hour here on News
Radio KMAN.
Kathy Ray is back.
Hello, my friend.
SPEAKER_00 (00:20):
Good morning.
How good to be here on a Monday?
SPEAKER_01 (00:23):
On a Monday.
It's good to be anywhere on aMonday, bro.
SPEAKER_00 (00:26):
This is true.
This is true.
SPEAKER_01 (00:27):
There's a couple places I think I'd rather be,
but you know, this is always funbecause it gets the week for me.
It really gets it started.
SPEAKER_00 (00:33):
Well, and we get to talk about a lot of great
things.
So it's good to catch up.
SPEAKER_01 (00:38):
We've been we've become really good friends, and
it's and and yeah, it's it'sneat to see, you know, our
individual lives where they go.
We always get to catch up.
SPEAKER_00 (00:48):
So absolutely.
Absolutely.
SPEAKER_01 (00:50):
Yeah.
Well, Crisis Center.
Let's talk a bit about what youdo there.
Let's just lead it off withthat.
SPEAKER_00 (00:57):
Okay.
Well, so the Crisis Center, uh,many may not be familiar with
us.
We provide um advocacy servicesto victims and survivors of
domestic violence, sexualassault, and their family.
So we're most known, I think,for our safe shelter, uh, which
serves as a safe haven forvictims who are needing to flee
(01:21):
abuse and violence in their ownhome.
And so uh we have a safeshelter, a confidential safe
shelter where families can staywith us as long as they need
while they are safe and whilethey rebuild their lives after
escaping abuse and violence intheir own homes.
And so we have our safe shelter,but then we have a number of
services, everything fromsupport groups, assistance with
(01:45):
court, um, help with uh lawenforcement.
We have police response advocacyprogram where we co-respond with
the Riley County PoliceDepartment to every domestic
violence call that occurs inRiley County.
So we have a number of servicesthat are really just meant to
help people who are experiencingabuse and violence in their life
(02:07):
to figure out what they want tohave happen, what they need to
have happen to be safe.
And um lots of different thingscome with that.
So our advocates provide that.
And we're a 24-hour serviceagency.
And so anytime someone needs usday or night, we're there and
ready to respond.
SPEAKER_01 (02:23):
You've had some significant developments in the
last couple of years.
SPEAKER_00 (02:27):
Yes, we have.
We have grown.
SPEAKER_01 (02:30):
Which unfortunately.
SPEAKER_00 (02:31):
Unfortunately, yes.
SPEAKER_01 (02:32):
But but I mean, you are able to do more because
you're responding to the need.
SPEAKER_00 (02:37):
Yes, yes, we are.
Um, we are able to do more andrespond to the need that is here
in Manhattan and Riley County.
Um, we've done a lot of workover the last four years.
Uh, most notably, we built abrand new safe shelter.
Uh, we moved into that in 2022,which gave us more space uh to
house more people.
(02:57):
Um, that shelter is full almostall the time.
Last year we provided about9,300 bed nights in our safe
shelter in 2024.
And so um, you know, that's alot more than what we used to do
in our old shelter.
So with that comes the need formore advocates uh to serve
people and just um better meetpeople's needs.
SPEAKER_01 (03:18):
Yeah.
Well, you know, with that newlocation, I know that that was
just an answer to a lot ofprayers for you guys.
And it was.
And, you know, it's theunfortunate thing is that you
had 9,300 bed nights.
SPEAKER_00 (03:32):
Yes.
Yes.
That's a lot.
SPEAKER_01 (03:34):
That seems like a lot.
SPEAKER_00 (03:35):
It is a lot.
And you know, we do not have astay limit at our uh safe
shelter.
So someone can stay with us aslong as they need to while they
work on their goals.
They get to define those goals.
And while they work with anadvocate on that, um, you know,
our average stay right now isabout 45 days.
So people are it is taking alittle bit longer for people to
(03:57):
get back on their feet.
Um, and if you think aboutdomestic violence and everything
that comes with that, there is alot of economic abuse.
There is a lot of um maybe theperson wasn't allowed to work.
So they don't have a jobhistory, they don't have job
skills.
So you're really starting fromthe point at which they need to
start to rebuild their life.
(04:18):
It's really hard if you're amother of three and you haven't
worked in 10 years, right?
You haven't had to figure outhow to pay rent, how to, you
know, do these day-to-day thingson your own as independent.
And so it does take time tofigure all those different
pieces out and get people on theright track so that um, you
(04:38):
know, long-term stability isreally what we're we're helping
people achieve.
SPEAKER_01 (04:44):
Compare 2025 to date with 20.
When did you start 2019?
SPEAKER_00 (04:52):
I started uh in October of 2021.
Yes.
SPEAKER_01 (04:56):
Compare the number of bed nights that you have now
to when you first started.
SPEAKER_00 (05:03):
When I first started, we were doing about
2500 uh 2500 a year.
Wow.
So a significant increase, yeah.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (05:11):
Do you think that that is largely because you have
a larger facility?
Or is that because you know, Imean, I'm sure that there's a
number of things that come intoplay with this.
SPEAKER_00 (05:25):
Yes, there are.
There are.
And that is part of it is havinga larger facility, being able to
house more people on any givennight.
Um, we also have more advocates,so we've increased our staffing
since I've started.
Once we get fully staffed, we'veadded about 10 full-time
positions over the years to dovarious things.
Um, the other thing we're doingmore of is outreach.
(05:48):
So if people don't know how tofind us, you know, that's really
a missed opportunity.
And people all the time ask, youknow, what what do you do at the
crisis center?
We save lives.
That's what we do.
And when somebody calls us, ifwe don't have someone to
respond, that is a life, life ordeath matter, right?
And so we've added the advocatesto really be able to provide
(06:11):
those services to people, butwe've also added, like, a
community engagementcoordinator, for example.
We need people to know how toget in touch with us.
We need to get our informationout there so that when somebody
is experiencing isolation,abuse, violence in their
relationship, that they know howto reach out for help.
Um, people who are victims ofdomestic violence, it's hard for
(06:35):
them to get access toinformation.
Their internet usage may bemonitored, their odometer
reading on their car may bemonitored, you know, um, all of
these different things that makeit difficult to get them
information.
So we try a number of differentavenues to get our word out,
whether that's social media, uh,different community fairs,
events, things like that.
(06:56):
Um, so we've done a lot more ofthat as well, which I think also
increases the numbers.
And people will do ask, youknow, is more domestic violence
occurring in our community?
Um, and I would say, you know,uh it's it's definitely there
are different societal factorsthat make it worse, make the
(07:21):
abuse escalate and um makethings worse for victims and
survivors.
And so we we do see more aroundthose times as well.
SPEAKER_01 (07:30):
The month of October is domestic violence awareness
month.
SPEAKER_00 (07:33):
Yes.
SPEAKER_01 (07:34):
Sometimes a month is not long enough.
SPEAKER_00 (07:36):
That's true.
SPEAKER_01 (07:38):
Because it is uh it's a 12-month a year.
It is, yes, 365 and a quarter.
Yeah, 24-7 deal.
SPEAKER_00 (07:45):
Right.
Absolutely.
SPEAKER_01 (07:47):
You have a project, and I and is this new?
SPEAKER_00 (07:51):
Yes.
SPEAKER_01 (07:51):
The clothesline project.
Tell us about this.
SPEAKER_00 (07:54):
Yes.
So we are bringing a newsurvivor art installation um to
Manhattan uh for the month ofOctober uh to raise awareness in
Domestic Violence AwarenessMonth.
And the Clothesline Project, itwas developed in, I believe, the
early 90s uh in Massachusetts.
And it is a nationwide umawareness initiative now.
(08:17):
But the shirts that are in theclothesline project.
So the clothesline project is ais an art installation of shirts
that are created, designed,developed by victims and
survivors, uh, by family membersor friends of someone who's
maybe lost someone to domesticviolence, um, or the community
(08:38):
itself can create these shirtsthat then go into the
clothesline project.
So the clothesline project, um,you know, for victims and
survivors, it really is a toolof healing for them to be able
to create this shirt to um saywhat they want to say about the
issue or maybe their ownexperience.
Um, and then these shirts, theyliterally hang on a clothesline
(09:01):
and they raise awareness for thecommunity.
Um, they all have differentmessages.
You know, for example, I'mmyself and my daughter were
creating one for my cousin whowas murdered when I was a
teenager by her fiance.
So we're creating one in memoryof her to be added to the
clothesline project.
And yeah, so it's reallyintended to create um awareness
(09:22):
in the community, but also givea voice to victims and survivors
and and can be a powerful toolof healing and to let them know
that they're not alone.
SPEAKER_01 (09:30):
Give us some of the details, the where, the when,
and yes.
SPEAKER_00 (09:34):
So we are um launching the closed line
project.
We're having a communityreception that's open to the
public.
Uh, we'll have lightrefreshments, uh, we'll have
different community leadersspeaking.
And that is gonna be Monday,October 20th.
That's at the Manhattan TownCenter from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
So we hope that the uh communitywill come out.
(09:55):
Um, and that is the openingreception.
And then the actual display willbe on and available to the
public at the Manhattan TownCenter from October 20th through
the 24th.
So it'll be on display for aweek.
SPEAKER_01 (10:09):
Well, it's great that we have an opportunity in a
in a nice location to be able toshare that.
SPEAKER_00 (10:16):
So they've been very supportive of us uh the
Manhattan Town Center, and we'vedone past events there, uh,
displays for Domestic ViolenceAwareness Month.
And so um, this is the firsttime we're doing the closed line
project.
We had a shirt making event thislast Saturday, and we're
starting to get those shirts in.
And I know it's gonna be very,very moving and powerful uh for
(10:37):
the community to see.
So please come out and join uson October 20th at 5 30 p.m.
at the mall.
SPEAKER_01 (10:43):
Okay.
All right.
Let's talk a bit about somethingthat I mean, we are getting into
the fourth quarter.
SPEAKER_00 (10:49):
Yes.
SPEAKER_01 (10:50):
The fourth quarter, you know, we think about a lot
of different things.
You know, there's always, youknow, the financial aspects, you
know, because you know, that'show we do business.
Right.
But the fourth quarter is uh,you know, filled with holidays.
It is very special holidays.
And for some during the holidayseason, it ain't so fun.
SPEAKER_00 (11:11):
Right.
Yeah, yeah, unfortunately.
And, you know, nobody ever wantsto find themselves living in a
shelter over the holidays atChristmas morning, right?
Or at Thanksgiving even.
And so, you know, we try to makethe holidays extra special for
the people that we serve, bothin terms of um making it as
normal as possible, um,celebrating holidays if they
(11:34):
choose, if that's part of theirtraditions.
Um, but it really does take awhole community to make that
happen.
And so, you know, being that theholidays are a time of giving,
we do, this is the time of yearwhere we do ask for that extra
support from our community inwhatever ways that they can
support uh victims and survivorsthrough the holidays.
You know, if if someone's in ourshelter, you know, we've we've
(11:57):
got to provide Christmas,basically.
Um, we've got to provide theThanksgiving meal, all of those
different things that come withthat.
But we also have a lot of peoplethat in our community who aren't
in our shelter that we'reserving, but also need that
assistance.
Um, that maybe they're stillliving in the home where the
abuse is occurring, maybethey're still living with an
(12:18):
abusive partner, and um tonavigate that with their
children is difficult.
It is, it is difficult.
And um, people usually have timeoff for the holidays.
So they're spending more timetogether around the abusive
person.
And it's there's a lot that goesinto that.
And so we do uh try to do a lotat the crisis center to make
this a normal time for peopleand and engage our community to
(12:41):
help us do that.
SPEAKER_01 (12:44):
How can people help with that?
SPEAKER_00 (12:46):
Well, there are a number of ways.
Um each year we have a Christmasbureau where um we solicit gifts
and items for the people that weserve to for the actual presents
that they're gonna use onChristmas.
Um so people can contact us toget involved in our Christmas
bureau.
We have um we need volunteers.
(13:08):
We're always in need ofvolunteers, whether that be at
the safe shelter.
Uh, we have a group that comesand decorates the shelter for
Christmas.
Um that's those kinds of thingsare what tells victims and
survivors that they're notalone, that our community is
here to support them.
When they see those volunteersat our shelter, um, when they
(13:29):
see that people care enough tocome decorate, you know, to make
it feel as normal as possible,those send a message of healing
to the people that are receivingthat.
And so volunteers are alwaysneeded.
And on our website, um,www.thecriscenterinc.org, um,
(13:50):
there's a number of volunteeropportunities, and we'll be
adding to that as we get intomore into the holiday season.
We also have an in-kind donationpage on our website.
So I always tell people imaginewhat it's like to have a house
of 40 people.
How much toilet paper would yougo through?
How much laundry detergent wouldyou go through?
That's though, that's basicallywhat we need.
(14:11):
Um, when we say our services arefree, that's down to the basic
necessities (14:15):
food, deodorant, laundry detergent, all of those
things that you need uh day today, we also provide that.
And we really rely on ourcommunity.
So October Domestic ViolenceAwareness Month is a great time
to do donation drives for thecrisis center.
So if anybody's part of a groupor a club, um, you know, we've
(14:36):
we've sort of noticed a decreaseof our our in-kind donations.
And I think things like theeconomy and you know, challenges
that people are everybody'sfacing.
SPEAKER_01 (14:46):
There are a lot of organizations out there that are
in need of money.
SPEAKER_00 (14:48):
Yeah, money.
SPEAKER_01 (14:49):
And it is all right.
It's very competitive.
SPEAKER_00 (14:52):
Absolutely.
Absolutely.
Unfortunately.
Yeah.
And so, you know, there's a lotof ways to get involved.
We do a holiday mailing at theend of the year.
That's uh the one time where weask our community to give if
they can in terms of uh givingmoney, because, you know, it's a
certain percentage of our budgetis reliant on donations.
(15:15):
We are grant funded, both stateand federal grant funded, um,
but that's not our whole budget,right?
So we have an annual budget ofabout 2.6 million between our
whole service area, includingour safe shelter and what that
takes to operate.
Um, you know, we have threelocations and about 40 staff.
So it's it's a bigger operationthan I think what people realize
(15:38):
because it happens behind thescenes.
It's intended to happen behindthe scenes.
It's intended to be confidentialfor people's safety.
Um, but yeah, but there's a lotof ways people can get involved
in the holidays.
SPEAKER_01 (15:51):
Her name is Kathy Ray.
She's the executive director ofthe Crisis Center, the
CrisisCenter Inc.org, is whereyou can find out more.
Always a delight to have you in.
SPEAKER_00 (16:01):
Thank you so much, David.
Good luck with your event and uhlooking forward to I'll try to
drop.
SPEAKER_01 (16:09):
We'll be back with uh Jaina Yukurzenko coming in
next to give us an idea on somethings that are happening in the
community here on the GMCFCommunity Hour here on News
Radio K M A N.
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