[Pixi]

I just found out about this and think it's something people might be interested in.

The Pretty Bird Woman House needs a house.

This battered woman's shelter in South Dakota was broken into and set afire recently. The group has found another building, raised almost $50,000 and needs about $10,000 more to be able to buy it. They also need monetary donations towards a fence and security system as well as donations of clothing and toiletries for the women and their children.

Right now it's below freezing in the area and shelters in the neighboring cities (quite some distance away) are stretched to their limits, as this time of year brings out the worst in people as well as the better. This particular shelter is the only one for Standing Rock Reservation, an area the size of Connecticut with only two police officers on duty at any one time. With three shelter staff they have:

* Served a total of 614 women with education and services.
* Answered 397 crisis calls
* Provided emergency shelter to 188 women and 132 children.
* Helped 23 women obtain restraining orders, 10 get divorces, and 16 get medical assistance
* Provided court advocacy support for 28 women, and
* Conducted community education programs for 360 women.

They are also working on more general issues, such as improving the way the police respond to and report on sexual assaults, and doing education programs in local schools. The sooner they can raise the money the sooner they can get these women and children back into a safe environment.


I don't personally know anyone involved with this but I think this is a worthy cause to donate to.