Donation party collects items for domestic violence shelter
Trending
From staff report
PARKERSBURG -- Dr. Richard Newhart threw a party at the Blennerhassett Hotel Friday night for the dental community and patients.
The ticket into the party was an item for the Family Crisis Intervention Center in Wood County.
An estimated 60-75 people attended the party in the ballroom that included hors d'oeuvres, a cash bar, disc jockey and photo booth.
Attendees contributed enough personal hygiene items, quilts, hand and bath towels, laundry supplies, paper products and other donations to fill the conference room at the domestic violence emergency shelter, said Emily Larkins, executive director of the Family Crisis Intervention Center.
The donated items will help the shelter for several months, Larkins said.
Newhart's donation party also collected $690 in monetary donations and gift cards, said Sherah Weaver, marketing coordinator at Newhart's periodontist office in Parkersburg.
This was the first time for the donation party. Dentists from Wood County and surrounding areas attended the party.
"It was a lot of fun," Weaver said.
Newhart said he is pleased how well the event turned out. This time of the year, the domestic violence shelter-rape crisis center may be forgotten in terms of assistance needed, he said.
Larkins said she spoke at the donation party about the work of the Family Crisis Intervention Center and how the donated items were needed.
She is grateful for the help received Friday night.
The Family Crisis Intervention Center has the emergency shelter in Parkersburg and advocates serving at seven offices in neighboring counties.
The shelter has eight bedrooms for helping people facing domestic violence situations. They can stay for up to 30 days unless circumstances warrant a longer stay, Larkins said. Children are permitted to stay with the women at the shelter.
"Holidays are a busy time for us," Larkins said.
Larkins said it was a nice evening at the donation party, where she had an opportunity to meet others and represent the organization.
The Family Crisis Intervention Center received 2,500 contacts in fiscal year 2018-19 in the eight-county region.
The emergency shelter never closes. To reach a trained advocate call 304-428-2333 or 800-794-2335.