post written by CHC member, Lisa-Sun Gresham
Our service day, organized by CHC member Neerja Joshi, began on a cool morning at 9:00 a.m. where the CHC crew met at the main office of Apna Ghar, which means "our home". This fabulous organization provides "free, holistic services to women and children across immigrant communities in the Chicago area to end the cycle of domestic violence. Apna Ghar empowers women to be self-sufficient by providing a full spectrum of services from legal advocacy to emergency and transitional housing to counseling and case management".
After gathering at the main office, we travelled to their 24-hour emergency shelter, a place with a warm and inviting home-like atmosphere, where families can live both independently and share communal spaces. Our task for the day involved separating and organizing the large influx of donations they had received so that they could find what they were looking for quickly and with ease. We sifted through bags and bags of donated clothing, toys, hygiene products, and even built a large standing shelf!
After a heart-felt thanks from the staff at Apna Ghar we made our way to the local library to have a thoughtful and sincere discussion centering on domestic violence. The discussion activities were led by CHC members Lily Camp and Ayla Karamustafa, covering the common stereotypical perceptions of "perpetrators" and "victims" and how that can adversely affect the treatment and success of those facing domestic abuse. At the end of the day, we wrapped up on a lighter note and shared what we were looking forward to most for the summer- some of the responses: shedding the winter coats, biking, gardening, and eating tasty foods in the sunshine.
Here are local resources for anyone who may be facing domestic violence and looking for help:
Apna Ghar's Crisis Line: 800-717-0757
Chicago's Domestic Violence Help Line (Toll free, confidential, 24-hour, and multilingual): 1-877-863-6338
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