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Open Hearts, Open Doors photos are here! View and download from our Google Drive: | |
'Tis the Season: Ways to Care for Your Community and Yourself during the Holidays | |
Make Winter Wishes Come True
Sign Up as a Winter Wishes Sponsor Today!
Here at Doorways, we are gearing up for the holiday season and we need your help to ensure our families' winter wishes come true! Winter Wishes is open to clients in all of Doorways' programs, making your sponsorship even more impactful! Our Client Services Team have requested new presents and gift cards for over 170 individuals.
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For each client, we need 1 gift, at or around $50 in value, and a $100 Visa gift card. Your gift of gift cards empower our families with the gift of opportunity to purchase items that bring their loved ones and themselves joy. Every family wants to spread the love this time of year, and your gift cards provide them the opportunity to do so!
If you would like to help families at Doorways this year, please sign up here to become a sponsor today!
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Self-Care and Safety Planning
How to Navigate the Holidays as a Survivor: A Comprehensive Guide to Self-Care and Empowerment
The holiday season, though often associated with joy and celebration, can pose unique challenges for survivors of sexual and domestic violence. For some survivors, the holidays represent the frightening possibility of being in the same room as the person who abused them. Navigating family gatherings, festivities, and potential triggers may seem daunting, but with proactive strategies and a supportive mindset, survivors can not only endure but find empowerment and resilience during this time.
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“Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation.” – Audre Lorde | |
Strategies for Survivors this Holiday Season
The holiday season is a time of celebration and a chance to reconnect with family and friends, but it can also present challenges for some survivors of sexual assault.
"Each survivor's experience and healing process is unique, and for some people the holidays may be an especially tough time," says Keeli Sorensen, Vice President of Victim Services at RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network). "Simple safety tips, self-care strategies, and the support of loved ones can sometimes make all the difference."
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Safety Planning for Holidays and Weekends
Holidays are often a time of joy and community, but for people with an abusive partner, the holidays (or even a long weekend) can be stressful and dangerous. Spending time with family and friends, dealing with extra stress, and traveling can challenge safety planning during any holiday or long weekend. Family and friends may struggle to help or support the survivor during this time.
The National Domestic Violence Hotline suggests safety planning for holidays and weekends to help families and survivors feel safer during these moments.
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“You are not superwoman. Because you cannot save your village, and you cannot save your family, if you are not saving yourself.” – April Reign | |
Guides for Self-Care this Holiday Season
Managing our mental health is important regardless of the time of year, but it is also essential during the holidays. Being around family or not being around family, triggers surrounding food, not having enough food, and a packed holiday schedule can be stressful and sometimes harmful. The stress and pressure to have a picture perfect social media worthy holiday and if you have children ensuring they have great holiday memories can take a toll on your mental health.
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This time of year can also be stressful for the children in our lives with a change in their routine, being overscheduled, and potentially spending time with people they don’t typically see. The Respect Together Libraries have many useful resources held within the collections to help get us through this time of the year and guide us into the brand-new year to come. From children through adulthood, these books can help. | |
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Help create pathways out of homelessness, domestic violence, and sexual assault. Give the gift of safe harbor, healing, and hope today. | | |
