Center for Hope & Safety

12/24/2024

Thank you to our additional community donors who provided holiday gifts for the domestic violence survivors we serve:

👜 Lucy Turland and friends
🧸 Jack Weldin with Knights of Columbus, Rochelle Park, Sacred Heart 2842, Bergen Catholic High School and Academy of the Holy Angels
🎁 Teterboro Airport
🛍️ Kids Blessing Bags Project
🎉 Simone I. Smith,

We appreciate you. 🙏💜🙏💜 Enjoy your holidays!

12/14/2024

Make sure to pick up BC the Mag's holiday issue. We are honored to be featured as the Nonprofit Spotlight! Check out pages 48-50 and share with your circle to have them learn more about us and our work. Visit bcthemag.com to see the issue online.

12/12/2024

We appreciate everyone who has dropped off or sent in holiday donations so far, and we can't wait to receive more from those of you coming tomorrow! Our clients will be able to enjoy a joyous holiday with their children. 🙏

Thanks to the following individuals and organizations:
💜 Joan's Joy - The Joan Angela D'Alessandro Memorial Foundation
💜 Midland School #1 PTO
💜 Forrest Elliott
💜 Bergen County Professional Women's Network - BCPWN
💜 Closter Elks & Greater Palisades Elks Lodge #2475
💜 Kids Blessing Bags Project
💜 The Giving Mood
💜 NCJW BCS National Council of Jewish Women Bergen County Section

12/06/2024

🎁 Ready to gift wrap for you this holiday season! 🎁

Our volunteers are available from now until December 24 at Paramus Park Mall to wrap any presents you are gifting to friends and loved ones in return for a monetary donation of your choosing.

All proceeds will go toward the programs and services Center for Hope & Safety (formerly Shelter Our Sisters) provides to support and empower Bergen County victims of domestic violence and their children, including our 24/7 hotline, emergency shelter, counseling, housing services, legal services, and financial literacy and career workshops.

Our gift wrapping table is located near the Macy's corridor between Swarovski and Chico's and will be open during mall shopping hours. Come out and bring your gifts to wrap! 🛍️

12/02/2024

Leaving is the most dangerous time during an abusive relationship. That's why we have dedicated and compassionate people to give victims hope, even when they are not ready to leave. And after a survivor leaves, our staff provide a wide array of services to empower them to rebuild and thrive.

WE ARE MORE THAN A SHELTER ⬇️

❇️ Our 24/7 Hotline provides information and safety planning tips to anyone in a domestic violence situation.

❇️ Our Safe House and Children's Program provide adults and children safety and support, and start the healing process after enduring the trauma of domestic abuse.

❇️ Our Transitional Housing and Safe & Sustainable Futures (SSF) staff provide assistance with finding safe, confidential, and affordable temporary and permanent housing to clients (and their children) who are ready to move forward from the shelter but could benefit from continued time and support to build their independent living skills.

❇️ Our Legal Services team provides free and in-house legal representation and counsel to victims of domestic violence. Our attorneys have specialized trauma-based expertise in matters such as restraining orders, custody and child support, divorce and other family law matters, and immigration.

❇️ Our Community Services team offers counseling, case management, and connects non-residential clients with resources from Bergen County and other community organizations to maintain their independence.

❇️ Our Economic Empowerment team leads workshops on financial literacy, putting resumes and job applications together, and working toward economic stability to secure affordable permanent housing.

❇️ Our Domestic Violence (DV) Liaisons provide expert consultations to the NJ Division of Child Protection & Permanency (DCPP) staff on managing cases where domestic violence is present. They offer safety planning to victims and also provide training to protective services employees.

❇️ Our Project CHILD therapists provide weekly individual and group therapeutic treatment utilizing creative arts therapy for children ages 4-12 who are victims and/or witnesses of domestic violence, addressing challenges such as anxiety, depression, anger, aggressive tendencies, and poor self-image. They also offer case management and support for the non-abusive parent to help create and maintain a healthy family dynamic at home.

We can't save lives, provide hope, or empower adults and children overcoming domestic abuse to rebuild and thrive without our amazing staff members. From our administrative staff who contribute to the daily operations of Center for Hope & Safety to all our program staff working directly with our clients, your support allows us to do all that we do.

For Giving Tuesday, please consider giving a monetary donation to help us continue our mission of helping domestic violence victims and survivors throughout Bergen County.

👉 DONATE NOW: https://www.hopeandsafetynj.org/donatenow

11/30/2024

In March during our Evening of Hope celebration, we honored Jaclyn Dellosa with the 2024 Outstanding Service Award for her notable dedication and commitment to helping those impacted by domestic violence in Bergen County.

Every year during the holidays, Jacki organizes a Purses with Purpose brunch at Sedona Taphouse to raise funds for Center for Hope & Safety. Her event has seen impressive growth the past few years:

In 2021, 50 guests attended and about $5,000 was raised.
In 2022, 110 guests attended and about $8,000 was raised.
In 2023, 170 guests attended and about $15,000 was raised!

Jacki started the brunch because she felt fortunate to have friends and family around her for support when she decided to leave an unhealthy marriage.

"I cannot imagine trying to do it alone. What Center for Hope & Safety does, the people it helps, is amazing. Any light I can shed on an issue that hit close to home for me feels like my duty as a human in this world."

Jacki, we are amazed by the impact you have made on domestic violence survivors and their families. Thank you for all that you have done and continue to do for our organization. 🙏💜

Please consider supporting Jacki's efforts by attending her brunch fundraiser next Sunday, December 8, 10:00-2:00 p.m., at Sedona Taphouse in Cliffside Park, NJ. $70 per person to attend. More details below.

11/27/2024

Center for Hope & Safety’s Domestic Violence (DV) Liaison Program provides expert consultations to staff of the NJ Division of Child Protection & Permanency (DCPP) on managing cases where domestic violence is present.

Our DV Liaisons provide direct and confidential services to DCPP clients, including information on domestic violence, resources, and safety planning. They also advocate for clients within DCPP and other community systems as needed.

DV Liaisons also conduct domestic violence trainings for employees working in child protective services.

Amanda L. Murray, a Center for Hope & Safety DV Liaison, was recently interviewed on the use of tracking devices and domestic violence. Her conversation is full of insights on the dynamics of domestic abuse and includes tips on how to help if you suspect someone you know is a victim.

Listen to Amanda's KYW Newsradio Bridging Philly radio interview:
https://www.audacy.com/podcast/bridging-philly-d2cd1/episodes/how-tracking-devices-are-used-in-domestic-violence-a-place-of-healing-at-still-rise-farms-49c3f

We are more than a shelter. Learn about all our programs at https://www.hopeandsafetynj.org/about-us/our-programs/

11/26/2024

We are proud to have Dana Anello and Jersey Women Strong, LLC as a long-time community partner. This year is their 13th year of supporting our clients with Thanksgiving meals that include turkeys, sides, bread, and pies, as well as a ShopRite gift card. 🙏💜

Watch and learn more about who they are and how they came to support Center for Hope & Safety.

11/21/2024

Shout-outs are in order for everyone that recently provided donations for our clients and their families! 📣

Apex Group Ltd donated toiletries as well as funds they raised from a bake sale. 🍪

Summit Health Cares delivered Fresh Start kits containing menstrual products 🩸and other personal items.

Samantha and Mackenzie from Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey organized a collection to fill 70 purple drawsting bags with personal hygiene products. Congrats on earning your Silver Award! 👏👏👏

FDU Knights Athletics Softball 🥎 stopped by with 500 bags full of toiletries.

And the Girls Scouts and FDU Softball also attended our Walk in October during Domestic Violence Awareness Month. We love the extra support! 🙌

Thank you for helping survivors of domestic violence as they rebuild. 🙏💜

11/13/2024

Kindness. It's not hard to give, but it means the world to someone overcoming the trauma of domestic abuse.

Our staff understand that. And that's why we hear from clients over and over again how much they appreciate our staff's compassion, empathy, and support.

We celebrate our staff today on World Kindness Day. Thank you for your acts of kindness each and every day. 💜💜💜

11/09/2024

We are grateful for the collections we received from community members to benefit our clients who are rebuilding a life for themselves and their families after surviving domestic abuse.

Thank you to The Stephanie Nicole Parze Foundation for providing care bags containing toiletries and personal hygiene products, and to Lisa Swain and NJ District 38 for collecting cleaning supplies and other much-needed household items. 🙏💜🙏💜

11/07/2024

Our community really showed up this year! 💜💜

Thank you to everyone who participated or supported our 9th Annual WALK TOGETHER Against Domestic Violence, our final event in October for Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

We had over 200 people attend and walk with us through Van Saun Park. One of the participants shared, "Certainly there was an abundance of good will in the park."

We appreciate your commitment to our mission of providing hope, safety and empowerment to survivors and their families, and for spreading awareness about domestic violence in Bergen County.

Congratulations to the winners of our participant awards! 🏆
💵 Most Funds Raised: Dan Meredith Agency, LLC: Allstate Insurance (team), Jacob Kim (individual)
🥳 Most Spirit: Alpha Zetas (team), Diana Sodano (individual)
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Largest Team: LG&P Agency

We also want to give special thanks to our vendors:
Armenian Presbyterian Church
Keke McClendon, Coldwell Banker
Rutherford Congregational United Church of Christ
Diana Sodano, Constantine Wealth Management of Raymond James
Tous Les Jours - Bergenfield

Domestic Violence Awareness Month may be over, but we still have many more people in need of our programs and services. We appreciate your continued support!

Make an online donation: https://www.hopeandsafetynj.org/donatenow/

10/28/2024

One brave young woman from our area will be sharing her story of survival from domestic violence while at Ramapo College tomorrow evening at New Milford High School during an annual domestic violence awareness symposium. Domestic violence happens here in Bergen County and it's important to raise awareness in our local communities, especially among our youth. Please consider attending with your families, or you can catch the live stream on YouTube. Details below. 👇

𝗕𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻 𝗡𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝗪𝗮𝘀 𝗞𝗶𝗱𝗻𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗱 𝗔𝘁 𝗞𝗻𝗶𝗳𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁, 𝗕𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗕𝘆 𝗔𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗘𝘅 𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗲 𝗗𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗩𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀, 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀

𝐁𝐲 𝐉𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐃𝐞𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐨 (𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐎𝐧𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬)

New Jersey protects the identities of domestic violence victims by discouraging news coverage of the arrests of their abusers. Unfortunately, this could create the wrong impression about the extent of such assaults.

The 6th annual Domestic Violence Awareness Symposium in New Milford next week aims to correct the impression while providing the resources – and emotional support – for domestic violence survivors and their families.

A powerful asset this year is Alexis Ruhlen of Garfield, who was kidnapped at knifepoint by her abusive ex-boyfriend at Ramapo College and made to drive to the Woodbury Common mall north of the state line before she escaped.

Ruhlen -- who was in court in Hackensack when Pawel Sliwinski was sentenced to seven years in state prison this past April – will share her story with this year’s attendees.

It includes how Sliwinski popped up from behind the front seat of her car after Ruhlen had left class two years ago this month.

Sliwinski had worked part-time as a lifeguard supervisor at Kaplen JCC on the Palisades in Tenafly and before that as a lifeguard at the American Dream Mall in East Rutherford.

The couple (pictured) met on Tinder. However, what seemed a perfect pairing quickly changed as Sliwinski grew more controlling, jealous and aggressive.

Prosecutors said he sent 43 emails threatening to hurt Ruhlen and her family after she broke off the relationship. Then he went to the college’s Mahwah campus and hid in her car.

Holding a knife to the young nursing student, Sliwinski punched and whacked Ruhlen with a pumpkin she had in the back seat, then told her he was going to cut her up and sew her body parts back together.

Then he forced her to drive 20 miles north to Orange County, NY.

“I accepted I was going to die that day,” Ruhlen recently recalled. “Saving myself was my most difficult accomplishment but it is one I am most proud of.”

Ruhlen’s is the brave face of domestic violence survival. Tragically, many remain trapped by abusers – or end up dead.

Every 9 seconds in the United States, someone is abused by either a partner, an ex or someone they’d only recently met.

“This startling statistic often goes unnoticed,” said Marisa Heluk, who’s the division director of Bergen County Alternatives to Domestic Violence (ADV).

So does the fact that nearly half of all women and more than 40% of men are abused at some point int their lives, she said.

“Intimate partner violence is a danger to everyone regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, religion or political affiliation,” said New Milford Councilman Matthew S. Seymour, who launched the popular and highly respected annual symposium several years ago. “It affects everyone.”

The event is “carefully designed to provide a safe space where survivors, advocates, and concerned citizens can come together to share experiences and explore innovative solutions,” Heluk added.

It's free with no pre-registration required. You don’t have to identify yourself to anyone.

******

𝗧𝗜𝗠𝗘: 6 p.m.
𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: Tuesday, Oct. 29
𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗖𝗘: New Milford High School Auditorium

******

Of you could live stream the symposium on the New Milford Public School District YouTube channel (scan the QR code in the flyer posted with this story).

Here's the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlaCcp7e_Ow

The borough is sponsoring the event in partnership with the school district and New Milford police to “bring our community together to raise awareness and help survivors get the help they need,” Seymour said.

All are welcome, whether you’re a survivor, a professional in the field, or “someone who simply wants to make a difference,” Heluk said.

“One victim of domestic violence is one too many,” said Bergen County Sheriff Anthony Cureton, a panelist and opening speaker at the symposium. “We must continue to talk about the problem if we are ever going to solve it.”

10/27/2024

Earlier this month we held our annual Art of Survival reception at The Art School at Old Church in Demarest. The exhibit showcases the moving artistic expressions of Bergen County survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault who participated in Center for Hope & Safety's "The Art of Survival" program.

Survivors not only experience healing through the program, but they also build confidence in creating beautiful works of art. They find community and support among other survivors of abuse.

One participant expressed how The Art of Survival allowed her to regain her individuality and boldness, something she felt she had lost during her years of domestic abuse. Additionally, she found a friend in the group—someone who had a similar determination of moving forward and rebuiliding a life of safety and hope.

The Art of Survival is led by Marta Levy, Children's Program Director and Creative Arts Therapist at Center for Hope & Safety. The program is made possible by a grant administered by the Bergen County Division of Cultural & Historic Affairs from funds of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.

To learn more about The Art of Survival, please send an email to [email protected]

10/25/2024

Thank you 🙏 to our additional sponsors for tomorrow's 9th annual WALK TOGETHER Against Domestic Violence:

Together in EMPOWERMENT Sponsor
ShopRite Inserra Supermarkets Inc.

Together in COMMUNITY Sponsors
J's Family Auto Repair
Kimberly & Hafez Moussavian

We look forward to seeing our Walk attendees tomorrow morning at Van Saun Park! ☀️

10/22/2024

A Bergen County agency helped 1,600 adults and children with domestic violence situations last year. You can support their walk this weekend