our voice Spring 2014
ywca evanston/north shore
Fies Family fundraises for children YWCA Flying Fish swim parents Jean and Andy Fies, and their children, recently did a remarkable thing. They recruited over 150 friends and family to help make, sell and eat pulled pork BBQ sandwiches! Selling the sandwiches for $5 each, they raised over $3,000 for the YWCA Evanston/North Shore.
Domestic violence affects children, too
The Fies family knows that children at Mary Lou’s Place often languish in the summer without enough to keep them busy. Thanks to the Fies family's creative generosity, these children have the chance to go to summer camp and do other fun summertime activities, helping them heal from the trauma of violence in their homes. A big thank you to the Fies family and all their friends for eating a lot of BBQ and helping children in our shelter!
Did you know that the YWCA’s comprehensive domestic violence programs help women who have survived domestic abuse, as well as their children who have witnessed it, and in some cases been victims themselves? When mothers with children come to the YWCA’s domestic violence shelter, Mary Lou's Place, the children are immediately assigned to a Children’s Counselor. A comprehensive intake process ensures that they receive supportive services like medical care, insurance, dental care, eye exams, etc. Daily routines are established to create a predictable environment. Individual and group therapy, using art, music and drama is provided, and school-age children attend school and get help with homework. Most importantly, we work with moms to help them understand that domestic violence doesn’t only affect them, it affects their children, too, and we show them how to help their children deal with the trauma and hurt of domestic abuse.
Ella, Thomas, Jean and Andy Fies (son Charlie was busy at the cash register) raised $3,000 for summer activities for children in our domestic violence shelter.