January 15, 2006 • Chrysalis roundup of community support
January 15, 2006 • Huntsville Forester
By Tracy Nita Pender
Fuelled by the passions of the community and the generosity of local businesses and residents, Chrysalis, Huntsville’s newly planned women’s shelter, made huge leaps in the past year.
An idea borne of Chrysalis co-chairs Claude Doughty, Liz Aben and Scott Aitchison’s decision to tackle the need for support services and transitional housing for vulnerable and abused women (with and without children) in the Huntsville area, Chrysalis will break ground early in 2006.
The trio worked hard over 2005 advocating for the need of an organization like Chrysalis in a community where issues of domestic violence and abuse are often swept under the rug simply due to geographic isolation.
“A lot of women don’t have the means to get down to Bracebridge’s Interval House, where the closest interval house is. How does a woman without transportation pack up her kids and life and go to the highway and hope for the best, in the winter months especially?” asked Doughty.
2005 saw a Chrysalis committee form, pulling together members and volunteers dedicated to making a difference in the lives of those touched by violence. Chrysalis organized events across Huntsville, and the community rallied behind the cause, supporting bake sales, contests to name the building, fundraising efforts at Pickerel Lake Lodge and a call to all trades organizations and craftspeople.
Donations made in memoriam and inspiringly generous offers of services have flooded the Chrysalis team, but in the spirit of the season, many supporters have requested anonymity for their efforts. Companies like Zellers, Scotiabank, Huntsville Place Mall, MoreFM and the Huntsville Forester, as well as local service organizations including the Rotary ‘Sunrisers’ club and a number of small community church women’s groups have made Chrysalis their charity of choice. All continue to help raise awareness for the Chrysalis cause.
“Fundraising is obviously an ongoing and necessary function of bringing the shelter to fruition. Things are going well, but everyone involved realizes that funding — from donations to grants — are what is needed to get us up and running,” said co-chair of communications Dale Peacock. “The community has just embraced this cause so completely.”
The strong profile of a woman’s face melded with the silhouette of a butterfly form Chrysalis’ logo, and the pink image can be seen adorning cars and windows across the region. Johanne Stewart’s Dreams Becoming Reality Marketing team is putting the finishing touches on the Web site www.chrysalishuntsville.com, expected to go live by the end of January.
“The Web site will be full of information in support of women in crisis. It will list local amenities and crisis lines as well. Volunteers and people looking for contact information for donations can find everything they need on the site as well,” said Stewart.
Chrysalis is for women leaving abusive situations, vulnerable women of any age, and women in need of transitional housing either with or without children. Chrysalis will provide transitional housing, a safe, secure and free six-bed shelter, and a ten-unit rent-geared-to-income facility located in a convenient Huntsville location. Chrysalis is a community venture and it will only happen with the community’s continued support into 2006. |
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