The Webster County Victim Assistance Program will host its Annual Benefit for Safe Harbor on Saturday, October 11, from 4 to 7 p.m. in the 200 block of South Crittenden Street in Marshfield.
The family-friendly event will feature games, live music, a silent auction, and a gun raffle. A free fish fry will also be offered, with donations appreciated. Organizers say the evening will feel like a street party, as the block in front of the Safe Harbor office will be closed to traffic to make room for food, fun, and community support.
All proceeds from the benefit will go toward a long-term goal of building a new shelter in Webster County. Safe Harbor, which serves victims of violence, often reaches capacity and is forced to turn people away. In August alone, the shelter turned away five women and ten children because there was simply no room.
“We turn away about ten people a month that have no place to go,” said Cindy Claxton. “That’s why we’ve started a fund to expand. As a community, we’re hoping people will come out and support us.”
In addition to shelter space, Safe Harbor provides daily services for victims in crisis, including food, diapers, hygiene products, transportation, gas cards, and other essentials. Much of this work is sustained by donations, especially as funding from the federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) grant program has faced repeated cuts.
“We used to have a grant awarded yearly, but now it’s given in three-month extensions,” she added. “We never know if we’ll be open the next quarter until we get an email saying funds have been deposited. That’s why the community’s support is more important than ever.”
The Annual Benefit gives residents an opportunity to stand alongside Safe Harbor and help ensure the program can continue providing critical services to victims of violence across Webster County.
For more information or to make a donation, call 417-859-7129.
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here