WBIW.com News - local

Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana

Middle Way House Announces October 5th Wrapped In Love Yarn-Cutting Ceremony

Last updated on Tuesday, October 2, 2018

(BLOOMINGTON) - Middle Way House is announcing a yarn-cutting ceremony to commemorate the opening of Wrapped In Love, its annual public art display of tree sweaters. The agency invites the community to join the celebration on Friday, October 5th at 6 p.m. on the lawn of the Monroe County Courthouse.

The event is held to coincide with Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

middlewayree2.jpg

Attendees will learn how to enter and win a #WrapSurvivorsInLove raffle, meet generous sponsors, pick up a map of tree sweater locations, and enjoy hot cocoa and cookies.

Wrapped in Love represents a collaborative effort by our community to support survivors. Just as Middle Way House wraps survivors in love, a talented force of fabric artists lovingly wraps downtown Bloomington trees in creative sweaters, which warm the trees and hearts of passers-by. Committed individuals and organizations sponsor the tree sweaters to help fund meaningful alternatives to living with violence.

iddleway tree3.jpg

This is the sixth year of the project created to raise awareness and funds for the non-profit, which provides a wide range of supportive services to survivors of domestic abuse, sexual violence, and human trafficking throughout six counties in southern Indiana.

iddlewaytree.jpg
The tree sweaters will remain on display through March 15, 2019.

"Every stitch of the project relies on community members working together to create awareness of the issues affecting survivors and the services available to help us wrap survivors in love and support," said Debra Morrow, executive director of Middle Way House. "We so appreciate the individuals and businesses that sponsor tree wraps and each of the fabric artists and volunteers who generously donate their time and talents to knitting, crocheting, and installing
these beautiful works of art," said Morrow.

The community has shown their support for the project in many ways, with more than 25 tree sponsors this year. The presenting sponsor of Wrapped in Love 2018-2019 is Applegate Consulting Group, an organization development (OD) practice that assists national and international nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and socially responsible for-profit corporations with developing human and organizational capacity and building a more just and equitable society.

"I've been working for 30 years as a staff member and consultant with a range of women's rights organizations," said Beth Applegate, founder of Applegate Consulting Group. "It feels so gratifying to work in my hometown with Middle Way House, an agency that provides a broad range of empowering services to all survivors," said Applegate.

Additional sponsors include: 39 Degrees North, Anna Strout, Anonymous - in Memory of Helen D'Amico, Beth Shalom, Bloomington PRIDE, Christopher DeYoung, Crazy Horse, FASTSIGNS, Garry Johnson, Grazie Italiano, Haralovich Properties, ISU The May Agency, IVY TECH, Katherine Devich, Kimflickphoto, Limestone Post, Mary Ann Gingles, the Middle Way House Board of Directors, Needmore Coffee Roasters, Paige Freitag, Sandi Taylor Hometown Insurance, Shine Insurance, Susie Sullivan, The Venue, and WFHB.

Besides Wrapped in Love and other community education events, Middle Way House will also recognize Domestic Violence Awareness month with their annual fall luncheon on October 19th.

The featured speaker, Professor Dawn Johnsen, will discuss the complex impacts of this year's legal and political developments on the status of women and women's rights in America. Tickets for the luncheon are available on its website: www.MiddleWayHouse.org

For Middle Way House's free, confidential, 24/7 help and crisis line, please call 812-336-0846.

ABOUT MIDDLE WAY HOUSE:

Since 1971, Middle Way House has been providing services to people in crisis. Today, Middle Way House provides emergency shelter; a 24-hour help and crisis line; on-scene advocacy; support services for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and human trafficking; transitional and permanent housing solutions for survivors; legal advocacy; and education and prevention programs. Middle Way House serves six counties in southern Indiana, relying on a staff of 70 and a volunteer force of 300+ to provide an around-the-clock response to abuse and assault. For
more information, please visit: www.MiddleWayHouse.org

Middle Way House offers:

A 24-hour Help and Crisis Line: (812) 336-0846. The Crisis Line offers immediate intervention and support by trained peers and advocates. Help is available in multiple languages, as well as TDD, for the hearing impaired. These services are free and confidential.

Emergency shelter for people fleeing violence at home: Our 30-bed shelter is a safe place for survivors with and without children until they are able to find an appropriate, affordable place to live. At the shelter, residents contribute to the upkeep of their own and group spaces, often share evening meals, and take advantage of programs designed to help them move on with their lives.

Transitional Housing: helps low-income individuals recovering from the impacts of domestic violence to secure permanent, safe and affordable housing; achieve economic security; and develop their capacities for self-determination. The RISE! opened in 1998, and currently provides affordable housing for 28 families who have experienced life-threatening violence, poverty, and homelessness. Free programming at The RISE! focuses on giving the formerly disempowered the knowledge, skills, and confidence to take the power that is rightfully theirs to determine their own
future.

Healthy Relationships & Violence Prevention Education: Middle Way House has created an interactive curriculum designed to prevent interpersonal dating violence as well as domestic and sexual violence. Specially trained educators tailor presentations to fit the specific needs of each audience. This program is offered to area middle schools, high schools, and youth-serving organizations. Adult versions of the program are available, including sessions for developmentally disabled adults and lesbian, bisexual, gay and transgender men and women. Our objective is for
participants to leave with the shared goal of preventing violence in the future and in possession of the skills to do just that.

Legal Advocacy: The legal advocacy team is coordinated by an attorney and two paralegals. Legal advocates are available weekdays from 8 AM - 6 PM to assist people with questions relating to legal remedies for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, trafficking, and harassment. Advocates assist clients in filling out divorce petitions, motions to assist, and protective orders; discuss custody and visitation options, making referrals to pro bono and reduced fee programs, private attorneys, therapists and other resources; assist clients eligible for victims' compensation in pursuing relief; and accompany victims to court hearings and case-related appointments to provide emotional support. The legal advocacy office coordinates with the Protective Order Project at the Indiana University Mauer School of Law, which provides assistance with volunteer attorney back-up for persons seeking protective orders, and the Protective Order Assistance Partnership (POAP), located within the Monroe County Clerk's Office, for victims who are self-petitioning for orders of
protection.

Sexual Violence Support Services: Middle Way House provides services for survivors of sexual violence, which includes any type of sexual contact or behavior that occurs without the explicit consent of the recipient. Falling under the definition of sexual assault are sexual activities, such as forced sexual intercourse, forcible sodomy, child molestation, incest, fondling, and attempted rape.

Human Trafficking Support Services: The U.S. Department of State estimates over 27 million people across the globe are currently trapped in a form of modern day slavery and the United States has been identified as a significant hub for both labor and sex trafficking. Middle Way House has provided support services for many survivors of human trafficking, which is defined as a commercial sex act induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform
such act has not attained 18 years of age. We provide shelter and resources for survivors.

For more information, please visit www.MiddleWayHouse.org.

1340 AM WBIW welcomes comments and suggestions by calling 812.277.1340 during normal business hours or by email at comments@wbiw.com

© Ad-Venture Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Click here to go back to previous page