As the director of The Guardian Shelter for Battered Families, a project of Catholic Charities Inc., I would like to invite the Miss-Lou Community to join us on Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2017 for the 4th annual Purple Dress Run/Walk through the streets of downtown Natchez. October is Domestic Violence Awareness month, and the event is held to raise awareness of the domestic violence epidemic affecting individuals in every community, regardless of age, economic status, sexual orientation, gender, race, religion or nationality. The event is also a fundraiser for the Guardian Shelter and helps with expenses necessary to provide the 24 hour a day shelter services to victims of violence.

Across the United States there are 20,000 calls per day from victims reaching out for assistance to safety. Three women are murdered by men they know every day, and ages 18-24 are the most commonly abused population by their intimate partners. Domestic violence is the third highest cause of homelessness on the streets than any other factor. Survivors of domestic violence experience a range of negative health outcomes, including emotional stress, psychological trauma, physical injury and death.

The Miss-Lou is not immune to domestic violence and it’s consequences. In 2016-2017, The Guardian Shelter served 187 victims of domestic violence.

The Guardian Shelter for Battered Families is working to change that and is committed to breaking the cycle of domestic violence. We offer safe shelter facilities, individual and group counseling, support groups, and other established services to families that are homeless due to domestic violence. The shelter serves victims of domestic violence from Mississippi Highway Patrol District No. 9, an 11 county area encompassing Adams, Claiborne, Copiah, Franklin, Jefferson, Lawrence, Lincoln, Pike, Wilkinson, and Walthall counties and Concordia Parish.

The Guardian Shelter for Battered Families is designed to help victims of domestic violence to recover from their abuse, to unlearn the abusive behavior and develop healthy future relationships. The shelter provides safe shelter to victims of Domestic Violence for 45-60 days. While at the Shelter, the families receive a room, meals, clothing, personal hygiene items, transportation, childcare, job skills training and assistance, individual and group counseling, medical and legal assistance, parenting and life skills training, case management, and advocacy. The program also helps families find housing through the Rapid Rehousing Program and continues to provide assistance as the families work to rebuild their lives and become independent and self-sufficient. The Guardian Shelter and it’s programs are funded by government grants, donations and fundraisers.

Recently some of our funding sources have decreased our funding awards for the upcoming year and we must find ways to obtain additional funding in order to secure jobs and services.

It is important that we have the communities support in our efforts to end domestic violence and provide help and create hope for those that are suffering. Please join us on Oct. 24th, 2017 and take part in the Purple Dress Run. Registration can be completed prior to race day and emailed to courtney.hicks@ccjackson.org or dropped off at the Guardian Collection on Franklin Street or the Catholic Charities office next to St. Mary’s Basilica. Registration can be completed on race day as well.

Registration and check-in will begin at 5:30 p.m. and the race will begin at 6 p.m. The cost to register is $40 for adults and $20 for students and includes a race day tshirt, goodie bag, two drinks, and food after race. The race will begin and end on Broadway Street directly behind the Natchez Grand Hotel.

Awards will be given at the conclusion of the race. We look forward to seeing everyone there for a fun time and a great cause. Don’t forget to wear something purple!
Courtney Hicks is the program director for The Guardian Shelter for Battered Families.