Haven House Needs Your Help on “Denim Day”

Haven House is a non-profit domestic violence shelter. Since 1993, it has been providing support and intervention services for women in crisis and their children. Haven House offers shelter, counseling, court advocacy, referrals and transitional living opportunities to battered women. While the non-profit gets a small subvention from government, it has to generate more funds to provide services to women and children in need. This Thursday the fourth annual “Denim Day” is being held to raise much needed monies. Board Member of Haven House Sheena Gentle tells us more about this initiative and how you can help.

Sheena Gentle, Board Member, Haven House

“On Thursday, we are asking businesses and schools and everyone in Belize to support by making a statement with your fashion statement by wearing jeans to show your support for women who have been experiencing domestic violence and we also ask that each person donate two dollars towards the cause. This donation goes directly towards Haven House just to help directly with their daily operations. Haven House is a non-governmental organization and they do get a small stipend from the government, however most of the income they have would have to come from outside organizations or local donations.   We have some businesses that always support Haven House such as DFC, COURTS, Benny’s, Parrot Head in Placencia and we are also asking other major businesses in Belize such as hotels, utility companies, the banks, that would be able to come over and make a donation. If you take a picture [hashtag] #DenimDay2018 and we can feature it on our Facebook page as well.”

Andrea Polanco

“How many women are being supported by the shelter at this moment?”

Sheena Gentle

“Well, since 1993, the shelter has seen over three hundred and fifty women and over eight hundred children. Right now we have a few rooms that can accommodate about two or three families. And also what they do is to try and assist women with some counseling and also see if we can help them with some skills building, sewing, cooking, and cosmetology, just to assist them so that they have something they can fall back on when they leave.”

To help the Haven House provide much needed services to abused women and children, you can make contribution to Haven House’s Belize Bank account number: 133-633-010-120-001. And if you want more information on how you can help, please call Mindy Pratt at 630-4839.