McAlester Fortnightly, volunteer club within the General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC), recently donated requested items to the KIBOIS Women’s Shelter. Fortnightly Clubwomen are concerned with the welfare of women and children who experience domestic abuse in our community. In fact, the Signature Project of GFWC International is Domestic Abuse Awareness and Prevention.
A group of GFWC McAlester Fortnightly members delivered a plethora of items to the Pittsburgh County,women’s domestic abuse shelter. Items donated were: two pack and play with bassinet, sheets for the pack and play, towels, 16 pillows, personal hygiene items plus some fun luxury items like rejuvenating face mask, fingernail enhancement, images, and polish, hair accessories, jewelry, handbags, cosmetic bags, laundry baskets, make up and perfume. Celeste Lawson, Lead Advocate and Pittsburg County shelter manager remarked, “We are extremely grateful and excited for the incredible donation made by McAlester Fortnightly volunteers to our shelter, many thanks.”
The Director of the Haskell and Pittsburg Counties Domestic Abuse Women’s Shelters, McKinlee Crase, has four years of experience supervising these shelters. Crase provided pertinent data to encourage volunteers to provide supplies to the two shelters under the umbrella of KIBOIS. Shelters served 1,290 clients plus children on 338 occurrences, with shelter and supportive services.There is living space for fifteen families. The crisis hotline is open 24/7, 365 days a year, which recently answered 919 calls. Transportation was then provided for 2,885 clients. The State Hotline number is 800-522-7233. Pittsburg County Shelter Crisis number is 918-426-4448.
Clients receive counseling for PTSD of abuse and aggression along with money management and job skills. Life lesson classes, within group sessions, are provided to both in house clients and those living on their own. Counselors assist with job interviews, transportation and apartment locating. The first year rent and utilities are provided free to clients. The second year of rent and utilities is shared with clients to help them with budgeting.
General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC), is dedicated to enhancing the lives of others through volunteer community service. You can learn more about the volunteer activities clubwomen are performing in the Pittsburg County, Oklahoma area by contacting GFWC OK McAlester Fortnightly Club President, Brenda Calahan at 918-916-0947.
Submitted photo: GFWC McAlester Fortnightly Members L-R
Paula McGee, Vice President; Megan Ciolli, Parliamentarian; Celeste Lawson, Shelter Manager; Brenda Calahan, President; Tonya Ettner, Treasurer; donate items to the Domestic Abuse Women’s Shelter.