Kiwanis hear Refuge presentation

The Kiwanis Club of Swainsboro held its weekly meeting Tuesday night, January 16, at the Rustic Grille at 7 p.m. With President Cheryl Goodman presiding, there were 22 in attendance, including five guests, Joelle Romanchik-Cerpovicz, Karolina Cerpovicz, Richard T Smith II, Betty Dell Williams and Heather Williams. The cake, donated by Cayla Scarboro, was won by Richard Smith. The Domino’s pizza donated by Domino’s was won by Petite Garrett. The program for the evening was hosted by Jeff Brewer who introduced Betty Dell Williams, Executive Director of The Refuge, and Heather Williams, Forensic Nurse for The Refuge. Headquartered in Vidalia, The Refuge is a Domestic Violence Shelter, Sexual Assault Center, and has an Emanuel Outreach Office. They offer comprehensive services for victims and their families hurt by domestic violence and sexual assault. They are a state certified non-profit, non-denominational United Way Agency serving Toombs, Montgomery, Treutlen, Wheeler and Emanuel counties. They offer a 24-hr, 7 days a week staffed emergency shelter, a 24 hours-per-day crisis line, weekly support groups for victims and their children, family development activities to support families with children at risk because of exposure to family violence, and legal advocacy services to assist victims in obtaining needed legal assistance and support throughout court proceedings. This past year, 135 have received services in Emanuel County and 311 have received overnight places to stay. They have expanded the program to talk with teenage girls about dating and can offer some testing services for rape victims. They recently obtained a sophisticated camera to be used to photograph injuries. All services provided are 100% free. They are supported by grants, donations from individuals and churches, and state and federal funding.