Healthy relationships: Centre Safe’s holiday campaign is underway. How to help
Let’s be honest — the holiday commercials and appeals to head to stores or online for the biggest and best deals started before we even chose our costumes for Halloween. It seems like the time to celebrate specific holidays blends together, and half the time it’s hard to determine which season we are really in and what festivities we are supposed to be stressing about planning.
But as we feel the tremors of trepidation over finding the perfect gifts, family coming in for visits, or battling long lines at every store imaginable, there are so many in our community who have levels of stress we wouldn’t wish on anyone. That’s because they are also navigating the world of danger and violence in their homes, are dealing with the aftermath of sexual assault, or have been victimized in some other sort of traumatic way. So many are also trying to figure out how they can find a job, where they are laying their head at night, how to fill their children’s bellies, and how to take the at first step in healing.
That’s where Centre Safe comes in — and where you come in. We recently launched our annual holiday campaign with the goal of raising $50,000 to directly support victims and survivors across Centre County and allow Centre Safe to provide critical services. As we celebrate our 50th anniversary, we are asking the community to help us with our “Help Us Thrive in 2025” theme by contributing to our holiday campaign.
Centre Safe — formerly the Centre County Women’s Resource Center — has been a vital part of the Centre County community since 1975. Over the years it has grown into what we are today — three locations with dedicated staff offering confidential, free, and professional services like emergency shelter/housing, counseling, advocacy, legal support, outreach, education, and safe custody exchanges/supervised visitation through our Child Access Center. We would not be able to do nearly the level of work we do without the amazing support of community members.
On average we support 900 victims of domestic violence and 200 survivors of sexual assault, along with more than 200 adults and children needing shelter/housing.
You may wonder what your donation can fund. Here are a few highlights:
$10,000: 10 families with assistance to relocate to safe housing
$5,000: 100 hours of legal assistance
$2,500: 32 monthly bus passes to provide transportation to job interviews, medical appointments and employment
$1,000: 20 safe custody exchanges
$500: Textbooks for clients completing degrees/training
$250: Food, toiletries and other necessities for a family escaping violence
$100: Advocacy and support to obtain a Protection from Abuse Order
$25: Books for children living in the Sylvia Stein Shelter
No matter the amount, please know every cent raised goes directly to support clients and services. We greatly appreciate and love our community — thank you so much for however you can support Centre Safe and this very needed work.
You don’t have to take my word for it. Let me end this column with the words from one of our many clients who have utilized Centre Safe services.
“The first step is knowing you deserve to be helped,” said one Centre Safe client. “I didn’t always believe that but now I do, and I get to thank Centre Safe for helping me rebuild my confidence and be able to care for myself without depending on someone who abused me. This time last year I was in a very dark place, but I am doing much better now. Thank you for helping me get to that point!”
Jennifer Pencek is Centre Safe’s executive director. To donate to Centre Safe’s holiday campaign, visit www.centresafe.org and click on “get involved,” then “make a donation.” If you prefer mailing a donation, feel free to send your check made payable to Centre Safe to 140 W. Nittany Ave., State College, PA 16801 with “holiday campaign” written on the memo line.