“The Seeds of Hope”

Enjoy an evening of Garden, Patio, Pottery and Plants as the Shelter Home Celebrates summer with ”The Seeds of Hope”. Tickets for the event are $25 each and provide the ticket holder access to hors d’oeuvers and drinks, silent auction, plant sales and an opportunity to support the [...]]]>

“The Seeds of Hope” 

Enjoy an evening of  Garden, Patio, Pottery and Plants as the Shelter Home Celebrates summer with  ”The Seeds of Hope”.   Tickets for the event are $25 each and provide the ticket holder access to hors d’oeuvers  and drinks, silent auction, plant sales and an opportunity to support the Shelter Home of Caldwell County.

Friday   May 3rd   from 5pm-8pm  at the 1841 Cafe in downtown Lenoir.

CALL for Tickets (828) 758-0888 or

in Alexander County at the Taylorsville office, (828) 635-8055.

We are Planting Seeds of Hope to End Domestic Violence.

“The Seeds of Hope”

Enjoy an evening of Garden, Patio, Pottery and Plants as the Shelter Home Celebrates summer with ”The Seeds of Hope”. Tickets for the event are $25 each and provide the ticket holder access to hors d’oeuvers and drinks, silent auction, plant sales [...]]]>  

Be Part of NO MORE Day A National Day of Awareness for Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault MARCH 13, 2013 We’re pleased and excited to announce that March 13 is NO MORE Day, the public launch of the country’s first unifying awareness symbol for domestic violence and sexual assault. Join us to launch [...]]]>  

Be Part of NO MORE Day A National Day of Awareness for Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault MARCH 13, 2013 We’re pleased and excited to announce that March 13 is NO MORE Day, the public launch of the country’s first unifying awareness symbol for domestic violence and sexual assault. Join us to launch NO MORE and participate in one of the most concerted and collaborative efforts to raise awareness for these issues.

WHAT IS NO MORE? NO MORE is a groundbreaking symbol (like the pink breast cancer ribbon and the red AIDS ribbon) designed to galvanize change and radically increase the awareness of domestic violence and sexual assault in our communities. WHAT IS NO MORE DAY? On March 13, NO MORE Day, thousands of advocates and supporters across the country will unite to officially launch NO MORE. WHY NO MORE? Domestic violence and sexual assault are not easy to talk about, although they impact millions of men, women and children every year. Because of the stigma and shame, these issues often remain hidden in our society. NO MORE seeks to bring domestic violence and sexual assault into the national spotlight to generate more attention, more resources and more action to prevent them. NO MORE aims to empower bystanders of domestic violence and sexual assault in every community to break their silence around these issues and get involved. WAYS TO TAKE ACTION: • KNOW MORE. Learn the signs of domestic violence and listen without judgment to victims/survivors of sexual assault. Get the facts and know the resources available. • Say NO MORE. Break the silence. Speak out. Seek help when you see this problem or harassment of any kind in your family, your community, your workplace or school. • Share NO MORE. Share the NO MORE symbol with everyone you know. Facebook it. Tweet it. Pin it. Instagram it. Email it. Wear it. Help to increase awareness about the extent of domestic violence and sexual assault. Visit the NO MORE Shop at nomore.org. • Ensure NO MORE. Get involved. Volunteer in your community, or donate to a local, state or national domestic violence or sexual assault organization

Shelter Home of Caldwell opens its doors in Taylorsville By MICAH HENRY of Taylorsville Times The Domestic Violence Resource Center (DVRC) of Alexander County has recently partnered with a local agency, Shelter Home of Caldwell County, Inc., to establish the DVRC as an Entity on firm footing that will continue offering help to victims [...]]]>  

Shelter Home of Caldwell opens its doors in Taylorsville
By MICAH HENRY of Taylorsville Times
The Domestic Violence Resource Center (DVRC) of
Alexander County has recently partnered with a local agency,
Shelter Home of Caldwell County, Inc., to establish the DVRC as an
Entity on firm footing that will continue offering help to victims of
Domestic violence in the area. That local agency, Shelter
Home of Caldwell County, has a long history in the region of sheltering battered women. Shelter Home’s website notes
That when the Lenoir facility opened in April 1978, it was the first
Shelter in North Carolina for victims of domestic violence, rape and
sexual assault, and the victims’ children, and was the only shelter
on the East Coast between Baltimore and Atlanta for a time.
DVRC and Shelter Home will be working together to serve the victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse in Caldwell and Alexander counties, said Sharon Poarch, Executive Director of Shelter Home of Caldwell County. Besides Poarch, the staff of the
two agenices combined includes Jan Smith, Shelter Manager; Tina
Gilbert, Housing Coordinator; Shannon West, Child Advocate;
Lisa Triplett, Domestic Violence Program Manager; Patty Burke,
Victim Advocate for Alexander County; Hope Bumgarner,Community Outreach Coordinator; Jan Nash, Business Manager; Kim Watson, Court Advocate; Lily Moody, Rape/Sexual Assault Program Manager; Anita Hicks, Shelter Manager; Barbara Price and Hannah Lowman, Shelter Managers; and Dawn Chumley,
Court Advocate for Alexander County.
Poarch indicated that Shelter Home will seek and administer
grants for DVRC and Shelter Home together. Also, Poarch said
that Shelter Home will provide emergency shelter for those in
domestic violence situations. Victim advocacy, information,
coordination of services, and court advocacy will be provided by the
Taylorsville office staff. The two programs are sharing resources to
better meet the needs of victims across both counties. Poarch also said the partnership extends to the Catawba County Rape Crisis Center, which provides advocacy and services to Rape and Sexual Assault victims from Alexander County. The advocacy portion of the
agencies is very important to victims of domestic violence.
“As they go to court for the first time after a painful, traumatic
event, they will have someone [an advocateadvocate] to say what will happen and tell them their victim rights,” said Court Advocate Dawn Chumley. This includes connecting victims with legal aid (for eligible clients), referrals to food assistance,housing, clothing, jobs, support groups, or more. Sometimes the Shelter Home
has overcome quite high hurdles inorder to provide assistance.
One lady who was a victim of domestic violence had six children.
The family of seven suddenly needed assistance and shelter.
“That was an event in and of itself,” Poarch said.However, with the upcoming expansion of Shelter Home’s facility in Lenoir, the agency will be able provide shelter to more individuals. By June 1, 2013,
Shelter Home’s constructionproject should be complete,
providing shelter for up to 40 people. The agency can provide up to a 90-day stay, if needed. Currently, it has 21 beds, or the capacity for up to 27 if portable beds are used. At its current capacity, the
shelter is full for two weeks each month or more often.
Shelter Home’s expansion is possible thanks to community support and two loans made available to the agency. The Director stated that $500,000 came from the N.C. Housing Finance Agency,
and Shelter Home procured $340,000 through a loan from
the Federal Home Loan Bank. Shelter Home must match $310,000 in funds. “We still have about $75,000 to go,” Poarch said.
Individuals may choose to donate funds or to assist
with paper and food drives, school supplies, or clothing needs, Poarch indicated. She noted the agency has four transitional apartments it operates at cost, in which sheltered persons can stay
for up to one year. Staff at Shelter Home hopes to make the transition at DVRC as smooth as possible for those in the
Alexander area. “We kept the same location and phone numbers,”
Poarch indicated. “It is a slow changeover.” The Domestic Violence
Support Group will be reinstated soon in Alexander County as well.
She noted that two members of the DVRC board have joined Shelter Home’s board in the merger: Sharon Mehaffey and Trena Riddle. Shelter Home’s Director has police background For Poarch, a retired police officer, her new role of directing a domestic violence shelter simply continues her service to the community. In
the past, her postion as a law officer meant her work with
battered women ended at the shelter door. “It’s very humbling and
very fulfilling to be on the other side of the door,” said Poarch. “I walked out of a rigid, black-and-white world.
Procedure and policy used to be my comfort zone. Now our pathways are very unique. There are very few absolutes. ‘Never’ and ‘always’ don’t work.” Shelter Home’s mission is not only about providing services to violence victims but also is prevention of violence. This is accomplished through outreach in local schools and workplaces. For instance, the group recently joined in bringing
Mildred Muhammad to Lenoir. She spoke at the request of The Shelter Home staff as part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month
and National Crime Victims Rights Week. Ms. Muhammad is the former wife of John Muhammad, the DC Sniper and is author
of the book “Scared Silent.” She witnessed firsthand the
bizarre actions of her husband after he returned from
the Gulf War, but neither family, friends, or police took
her seriously. “Ignoring things is a good way to let bad things happen,” Poarch concluded. She encouraged those seeking help to call the shelter for more information. In Alexander, the
DVRC/Shelter Home’s 24- Hour Crisis Line is 828-635-
8881.

Sharon Poarch executive director of the Shelter Home of Caldwell County walks through and describes the renovations being done to the building. LENOIR — Trying to shuffle paperwork amid the noise of hammers and drills might prove difficult. To Sharon Poarch, the noise is music [...]]]> Shelter Home expansion ‘on time and on budget’
Kim Gilliland

Sharon Poarch executive director of the Shelter Home of Caldwell County walks through and describes the renovations being done to the building.
LENOIR —
Trying to shuffle paperwork amid the noise of hammers and drills might prove difficult. To Sharon Poarch, the noise is music to her ears.

Poarch is executive director of the Shelter Home of Caldwell County, which is entering the final leg of its two-year expansion project. For her, the hammers and drills mean more shelter space for victims of domestic violence.

By May, the home will have 40 beds instead of 21. A glassed-in play area for children will have been added, and staff will have a new conference/training room, a reception area, and new offices. Eight bedrooms will have been added, as well as a new lobby, a commercial kitchen and a bigger laundry area.

With an ever-increasing demand for services, the expansion was sorely needed, according to Poarch.

“We are good stewards and dedicated advocates, this project has nothing to do with being bigger or newer,” Poarch said. “It’s about finding a comfortable space for residents and staff.”

A capital campaign was launched two years ago. The project would not be cheap — almost $1.2 million would be needed. The N.C. The Housing Finance Agency provided $500,000, and a bank loan provided $340,000. Under the term of the loan, the debt will be forgiven as long as the shelter home continues to fulfill its mission of providing emergency and support services for victims/survivors of domestic violence, rape and sexual assault, and their children. The shelter must raise the final $310,000. So far, $200,000 has been raised.

“We’ve been very pleased with the project so far,” Poarch said. “We’re on time and on budget, and are continuing to fill the remainder of our capital budget needs.”