Home is supposed to be a safe and peaceful place, but every year, one in ten women find themselves living in a violent environment. Domestic violence against women and children includes the loss of peace and safety at home. Twenty-five years ago, this injustice called for a response from concerned residents of south eastern Manitoba. As a result, in December 1985, Agape House was created as a safe “home away from home.”
Agape House provides emergency shelter for women who have been victims and are at risk of becoming victims of domestic violence. The shelter can only house 15 women and children and is very often bursting at the seams. Agape House is a part of Eastman Crisis Centre which also offers counselling for children, and follow-up and non-residential counselling for women not staying at Agape House. Eastman Crisis Centre offers it services to families as far north as Pine Falls, south to the USA border, east to the Ontario border, and west to Winnipeg. The number of families accessing Eastman Crisis Centre’s services has quadrupled in the last five years.
“Without the generosity and support of the surrounding community, Agape House would not be here.” said Eastman Crisis Centre Executive Director, Tracie Rigby, “That would mean that the thousands of women who have needed counselling and a safe place to stay would not have found the help that they needed.”
On Saturday, October 23 at 5:30 pm, a 25th anniversary gala will be held to raise funds for the growing programs of Eastman Crisis Centre. The funds raised will be put toward acquiring more space for the day to day operations of Agape House. The gala will take place at the Niverville Heritage Centre and will include fine dining, live entertainment and spectacular prizes. For tickets to the gala or for more information, call Tracie Rigby at 326-6062.
