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Community Corner

The Center Loses Out on Big Bucks but Wins Supporters

Monroe residents will continue to receive free services at its satellite office in Town Hall.

“Thank you Monroe,” was the chant recently as staff from The Center for Women & Families of Eastern Fairfield County raised their cans of Pepsi in salute to Monroe residents.

The Center was immersed in securing online votes during the month of June for a Pepsi Refresh competition. The prize was a $50,000 grant. In spite of their efforts, they were recently notified that they were out of the top 10 winning positions.

“We want to publicly thank Monroe Patch.com and its dedicated readers for taking the time to vote online for our Hands are Not for Hitting program,” said Center CEO Deb Greenwood. “Although we didn’t win the grant, we won new supporters and recognition of the critical crisis work we do from rescue to rehabilitation.”

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According to Greenwood, the whole contest experience has highlighted a new challenge for The Center.

“Most people will acknowledge truth in the saying ‘You reap what you sow,’” she said. “Still, too many people fail to apply it to children. Unfortunately, children who do not learn hands are not for hitting early in life, will be likely, later in life, to use hands to hurt.”

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The Center’s pre-school and kindergarten program, Hands are not for Hitting, teaches children how to build healthy relationships. It breaks the chain of violent behavior. Greenwood sees the new challenge one of awareness.

“We have to make the public see and understand the connection between early behavior and bullying and adult violence,” she said.

“We want to thank everyone who understands that and voted for us”, she added.

Greenwood encourages those already caught in relationships of domestic violence and emotional abuse to call The Center’s hotline 203-384-9559 for help.

“Don’t wait to become a statistic. Our services are free,” she said. 

The Center discreetly operates a full service office in Monroe’s Town Hall, Room 213.  Residents can call for a confidential appointment 203-334-6154 or drop by Mondays or Fridays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. for free help.

The Center for Women & Families of Eastern Fairfield County is a full service crisis operation for victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse. It serves six towns Bridgeport, Easton, Fairfield, Monroe, Stratford and Trumbull and operates a hidden “safe house” for women and their children.

 

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