On July 15, The Guardian Shelter for Battered Families, a program of Catholic Charities Inc., hosted a luncheon/fundraising event in Natchez.

This was the first time this event “Journey of Hope” has been hosted locally in several years.

The even was at the Community Center with approximately 140 people attending. Our purpose for the event was to raise the public’s awareness of domestic violence and its impact on women and children as well as to raise funding for the continued operation of the shelter facility.

Our guest speaker was a mother, wife, as well as a practicing attorney, and her impact on our community will forever be one of her powerful message.

The Journey of Hope speaks to the true meaning of a victim who decides for many different reasons why “this day” will be the day when she removes herself and her children from an atmosphere of abuse and fear, and to replace those conditions with a place where she has the chance to make her and her family’s lives safer and independence a reality.

The shelter experience gives each victim the opportunity to have professional people involved in the decision-making process that promotes change for safety and independence.

The Journey of Hope allowed the staff at Catholic Charities and The Guardian Shelter for Battered Families to meet with the community in a very efficient one-hour presentation and to express our mission and our gratitude to the community for continuing to be part of our organization on a very personal level.

The community was well represented by the people of Adams County, Concordia Parish, Franklin and Wilkinson counties.

The 11 counties that we serve in Southwest Mississippi continue to support our work and the area participation for our fundraising events continues to grow.

I would like to say a special thank you to the planning committee for all their time and hard work. Those included are Deanna Bowser, Ryan Richardson, Renee Cavin and Martha Mitternight.

We also appreciate the added help and support of Ed Bowser, Kenny Cavin and Parker Cavin.

We look forward to future fundraising activities in the area and hope each of you will as well.

Our commitment to the communities we serve is ongoing and again we say a huge thank you to each of you who donated your time and your resources to us at The Guardian Shelter for Battered Families.

For additional information regarding our program, please contact me at 601-442-0142.

Donna Miller is the director of domestic violence programs for Catholic Charities.