There were 947 residents of Fayette County served by the non-profit Promise Place domestic violence prevention organization in 2010. And while many in the Fayette community have heard of the organization, what might not be known is that the long-anticipated transitional house for women and children is moving closer to completion.
A Sept. 30 fund-raiser, the “Run from Domestic Violence 5K Run/1 Mile Walk,” should help raise the funds needed to compete the project.
“Opening the house is something we’ve been wanting to do for years, but we kept hitting roadblocks,” said Promise Place Director Vanessa Mottley. “But now we can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.”
Now well underway and with the majority of the renovations complete, the transitional house in Fayette County is moving closer to accepting women and children in the facility’s three apartments.
“We’re still in the process of renovating it and we have a working list of things we’ll need to open it,” said Mottley. “Pastor Kirk McDonald of the Gospel Community Church in Fayetteville is the project manager and he’s taking great ownership of the project.”
The items still needed to complete the project include furniture for all three apartments along with stoves and refrigerators for each. Other needs include the installation of carpet that has already been secured and minor issues such as the installation of hanging doors.
Meeting the needs of victims of domestic violence comes with a cost. To help offset those expenses Promise Place holds fund-raisers such as the “Run from Domestic Violence 5K Run/1 Mile Walk” that will be held Sept. 30 at City Hall in Peachtree City.
Registration for the event is ongoing, with Early Bird fees at $20 and $25, depending on the participant’s age, a $35 fee if registration is received before Sept. 26, a $45 fee on the day of the event and a $25 Phantom Runner fee for supporters not participating in the run/walk event.
Event organizers are also seeking company and organizational sponsorships for the 5K Run/1 Mile Walk. Sponsorships range from $250 to $2,000 and come with a number of promotional options.
Event day registration for the Run from Domestic Violence begins at 5 p.m. followed by the run/walk at 6 p.m. For more information call 404-981-1969 or visit www.promiseplace.org.
Promise Place staff and their services can and do provide a safe haven for women and children in need. But not every woman finds such a place.
Across Georgia, between 2003-2009, there were 834 deaths from domestic violence, according to the Georgia Commission on Family violence and the Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Of those deaths, 96 percent of the victims were women.
Closer to home in Fayette County there were eight deaths from 2003-2009, including four in 2004, one in 2006 and three in 2007.
Other Promise Place projects include the domestic violence shelter that accommodates up to 15 women and children, The Teen Dating Violence Prevention program and the Domestic Violence Task Force.
For more information on Promise Place and the upcoming 5K Run or to offer assistance call 770-461-3839 or visit www.promiseplace.org.
