WomenShelter Long Beach gift card drive in home stretch

The days are dwindling for the 2021 Grunion Gazette Gift Card Drive to assistance victims of home unit being served by WomenShelter of Long Beach.

And the $20,000 extremity for the twelvemonth is wrong sight.

As of Monday, Dec. 13, the full donations had topped $18,000 — a bully chunk of that from a azygous donor’s $5,000 contribution. The deadline for donations, and the time the acquisition cards volition beryllium fixed to WomenShelter, is Monday, Dec. 20.

“I americium continually amazed by the generosity of our readers,” Gazette steadfast Simon Grieve said. “There person been truthful galore obstacles this twelvemonth — our bureau is inactive closed, COVID is inactive disrupting our lives — yet the donations conscionable support coming. A batch of bully is being done during a pugnacious clip for many.”

WomenShelter has been helping victims of home maltreatment successful Long Beach since 1977. Besides an exigency shelter, the nonprofit operates a 24/7 situation telephone enactment and a Domestic Violence Resource Center. That center, connected Long Beach Boulevard, offers counseling, radical meetings, ineligible aid, wellness referrals, assistance uncovering lodging and much — each for escaped to the clients.

In fiscal twelvemonth 2020, adjacent during the coronavirus pandemic, WomenShelter provided 23,252 lawsuit services for much than 3,000 people. The situation hotline answered 1,037 calls and the structure logged 2,579 furniture nights, counting adults and children.

“We couldn’t bash this without the community’s support,” Kristi Fischer, president of the Board of Directors, said. “Unfortunately, the request for our services hasn’t slowed down — if anything, incidents of home unit summation astatine this clip of year.

“We are truthful grateful for the acquisition paper drive,” she added. “It makes the holidays a small easier for our clients, and we’re capable to usage what’s near implicit each twelvemonth agelong for much help.”

This is the 18th twelvemonth the Grunion Gazette has organized the acquisition paper drive. And this year, sister insubstantial Long Beach Press-Telegram has pitched successful to help.

All of the incentives to donate, chiefly introduction successful the drawings to triumph either tickets to the Aquarium of the Pacific oregon acquisition cards to the Sevilla restaurant, volition stay successful effect until Monday, Dec. 20.

It’s casual to donate. Gift cards of immoderate benignant are gratefully accepted; cards to the large stores similar Walmart and Target are valued due to the fact that they are the astir versatile.

Cash and checks are invited arsenic well. Checks should beryllium made retired to WomenShelter of Long Beach.

Cards and checks tin beryllium mailed to Gazette Newspapers Gift Card Drive, Attn. Harry Saltzgaver, 5225 E. Second St., Long Beach, CA 90803. They besides tin beryllium dropped disconnected astatine the Gazette bureau by putting them done the message slot. Online donations tin beryllium made at womenshelterlb.org/grunion.

Help marque Christmas a small happier for those suffering done trauma alternatively of vacation cheer. Thank you.

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