Taking Flight: November 2018

24-Hour Domestic Violence Hotline: 208.343.7025 24-hour Rape Crisis Hotline: 208.345.7273 (RAPE)

The BeaLine (YouTube video)

Bea Black, Executive Director

Survivor Story

When I was 17 I was naïve and innocent. I believed in the goodness of people and had never experienced anything to challenge that…that all changed my senior year of high school when I met a boy in my science class. It was crush at first sight. I fell fast and hard.

We started out as friends and when we were 18 we started dating. It was a long distance relationship at first as I was attending my first year of college. I felt that we connected on a deep and meaningful level and he was all I could think about. I couldn’t wait to move back home and begin our relationship in person. Looking back almost 18 years later I can see many red flags but at the time I dismissed them because I wanted our relationship to work out.

As soon as I moved back home we began what would turn into a volatile and violent relationship filled with turmoil and toxicity.

More . . .

New Board Members

The Women’s and Children’s Alliance (WCA) is pleased to announce the election of five new and four returning members to its board of directors, as well as recognizing its newly elected officers.

Joining the board are William (Bill) Bones, Christine Bruce-Bennion, Rebecca Hupp, Debra Leithauser and Glenn Michael.

“We are delighted to welcome our newest board members and look forward to the addition of their talent, expertise and energy as we work to foster a community where individuals thrive in safe, healthy relationships,” said Bea Black, Executive Director.

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Volunteer Recognition

On October 15, we were excited to celebrate 12 volunteers who have made a huge impact on the WCA in the last fiscal year.

Congratulations to Cindy, Julie, Heidi, Angie, Bonnie, Jessica, Luana, Stephanie, Amy, Danielle, Ali and our friends at Conduent. These stellar volunteers help in the areas of child care, our shelters, the thrift store, court advocacy program, administration and on our Philanthropy and Outreach teams.

All our volunteers are special to us and in the last fiscal year, more than 4,786 volunteers contributed more than 14,653 hours of their time to the WCA. This equates to seven full time staff members. Wow! We cannot do what we do without the vital support of our volunteers. Thank you all!

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Corporate Pillar Spotlight

We are extremely grateful to Lamar Advertising of Boise for their outstanding support of the WCA’s important messaging through billboards throughout the community. Throughout October, which is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, billboards located in highly visible locations provided an essential and life-changing way for the WCA to share its helpline information for those in need to escape domestic violence and sexual assault.

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Supporting Our Clients

Our community is constantly giving back and supporting our clients on their journey to safety, healing and freedom. We would like to highlight just a few special cases that have happened recently.

Our work is only possible through the support of our community.

There are simply too many companies, families, and individuals to list. Check out our Facebook page for more fun photos and stories!

Wish List

Our lists of needed items are updated as needed and always available on our website. New items from this list below can be dropped off at the WCA lobby at 720 W Washington St. M-F from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Gift cards (Home Depot, Walmart, Thriftway Lumber, Any $ amount)
Gift cards, $20 and up (i.e. Winco, Albertsons, Target, Shopko, Wal-Mart, Fred Meyer, etc.
Gift cards, $20 and up for any gas station
Passes for family-friendly activities (movies, bowling, JumpTime, Wahooz)

You can purchase other much needed items through our Amazon Wish List.

The Philanthropy Files

Diana Burrell,

Philanthropy Manager

Christina, Tara, Cindy, Marisa. These four women came to the WCA in need of safety, healing and freedom as they fled abusive marriages. All of them have a shared experience of wanting – needing – to break the cycle of violence and abuse for their children. Now, they are all thriving in their professional and personal lives. They are safe, healthy, and healing and their children are learning the look and feel of healthy relationships.

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The Compassion Project

Chris Davis,

Communications Manager

“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.”
― Leo Buscaglia

As we head into the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, our to-do lists get long, our schedules get very busy and sometimes our patience gets short with those we interact with. Many of us even forgo our self-care routines and skimp on the things that help keep us balanced out like adequate sleep, quiet time and exercise.

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