Tucked away, just off the road at a secret location in Lowndes County, is a large white home.
With a garden and scattered trees, the home is unassuming.
But inside, women and children from Lowndes, Oktibbeha and Clay counties, and other surrounding cities and counties, are given a temporary shelter, food, counseling and, in some cases, medication.
Since 1983, Safe Haven has been helping battered women and their children escape their abusers.
For 30 days, they have a home, food and clothes, while they plan their next move.
“We provide victims and their children a temporary shelter, and we refer them to other agencies to get the assistance they need to find permanent shelter that allows them to get away from the abusive environment that they were a part of,” said Joyce Tucker, director of Safe Haven Inc.
Touched by the work Safe Haven does, this year”s Leadership Lowndes County class decided to adopt the agency, hosting a fun walk/run fundraiser Saturday morning at the Columbus Riverwalk. Leadership Lowndes is a program of the Columbus Lowndes Development Link.
“We looked at many different options in Columbus, and it was decided we want to help Safe Haven because of what they do for our victims of domestic violence and abuse,” said Charles Douglas, a member of the 2010 LLC class and a Safe Haven board member.
Safe Haven”s yearly operating budget is about $400,000, said Tucker. The agency receives funding from the cities of Columbus and Starkville, as well as the United Way.
“We also receive several federal and state grants, along with support from United Way agencies, including United Way in Clay County and United Way of North Central Mississippi,” Tucker added.
Entry fees for the walk/run are $15 per person for early registration, $18 on the day of the event and $10 for students. Children 12 and under are free, with the donation of a gently used clothing item, which will be donated to the shelter.
Proceeds from the event will go toward materials to make badly needed renovations to the Safe Haven facility, with members of the leadership group providing the labor. The leadership group is also building a computer room to aid Safe Haven clients in looking for work.
“We have already finished reworking a bathroom and have done some floor work,” Douglas said. “We want to work on another bathroom, and we also want to provide toys for clients with children.”
The Safe Haven Spring Benefit Fun Walk/Run will start at 8 a.m. at the Columbus Riverwalk. Registration begins at 7:15 a.m.
Tucker is thankful for the efforts of Leadership Lowndes and this event.
“We appreciate what Leadership Lowndes is doing for us. Any help we can get is good,” she said.
Safe Haven was established through the efforts of local law enforcement officials, area businesses and others. The facility serves clients from 10 counties: Lowndes, Oktibbeha, Monroe, Attala, Clay, Choctaw, Webster, Montgomery, Calhoun and Chickasaw.
“There was a need for a facility in Columbus to serve women and children who were victims of domestic abuse and violence,” Tucker said. “The victims were taken to the hospital and treated for their physical needs, but they needed somewhere to get away from the abusive situation they were in.”
Safe Haven Spring Benefit Fun Run/Walk
· Where: Columbus Riverwalk
· When: Saturday, 8 a.m. Registration begins the day of the race at 7:15 a.m. Download early entry forms at the event”s Web site, www.safehavenfunrun.weebly.com
· More info: 662-328-2787
Need a Safe Haven?
· 1-800-890-6040
Allen Baswell was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
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