We are THRILLED to be working with this amazing organization Habitat for Humanity of Marion Co. (FL).
We are continuing our journey with Habitat or Humanity as a sponsor and vendor at their annual Strawberry festival. We are excited to be involved in this event! Not only will we be interacting with other local merchants and the community by being a vendor at the event, our sponsorship will assist with the building of the Strawberry House.
We are THRILLED to be partnering with the Humane Society of Marion County during the month of February! Being a dog and cat loving family, we love that the Shelter is a NO KILL SHELTER. They are dedicated to the care and protection of animals in Marion County, Florida. Their mission is to prevent cruelty, suffering, and overpopulation of animals.
They are very active within the community and hold several fundraising events throughout the year. You can also donate almost anything to their thrift store and the profits go directly to caring for animals in need.
Additionally, they provide “Humane Education” videos for new or potential pet owners.
Ready to adopt (or foster) a pet? Check out the cuties waiting for their forever home on their adoption page.
Follow our social media throughout the month as we keep you up to date on the latest news with this awesome organization!
Follow them on IG @humanemarioncounty or Facebook https://www.facebook.com/HumaneMarion/
@humanemarioncounty #humanesocietymarioncounty #loveapet #adoptapet #ocalaflorida #ocalabusiness #aboveartistic #veteranownedbusiness #womanownedbusiness #familyownedbusiness
We are excited to continue our partnership with Habitat for Humanity of Marion Co by being a sponsor for the Elvis Eras of a King event in Ocala FL on January 22, 2021! Proceeds from the annual Habitat concert benefit will go towards the construction of a Habitat home to help a homeless family.
During this time of year, there are so many who just need to feel safe. With the holidays and the Coronavirus pandemic, many services have been out of reach for those who are subject to domestic abuse and looking for assistance. Our partners at Alpha Gamma XI Military Sorority is one group who is committed to “providing resources for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault for those who have and have not served” through their Supporting Women and Nurturing Survivors (SWANS) program.
if you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline by calling 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), visiting www.thehotline.org or texting LOVEIS to 22522.
If you want to help make a difference, please reach out to SWANS, and see what you can do to help them help others. DONATE HERE or for more information, check out their website HERE or contact them at swans@alphagammaxi.org
Above artistic is THRILLED to be partnering with Alpha Gamma Xi and their Supporting Women and Nurturing Survivors (SWANS) program during December, spotlighting Domestic Violence awareness and resources available.
The SWANS outreach initiative is “dedicated to serving those women who have dealt with domestic violence and sexual assault. The SWANS outreach program has the sole purpose of creating strength within and rebuilding the “broken” woman; no matter the crisis. A program in which all who seek a place of empathy, safety, and confidentiality can come – knowing that her sister will be there reaching down to uplift her”.
The Sisterhood hopes to make a difference in the lives of veterans and other service members through the bonds of their 5 Pillars of Purpose: Service, Sisterhood, Stewardship, Scholarship and Solidarity.
Want to help? DONATE HERE or for more information, check out their website HERE.
During the month of December, Above Artistic will donate $3 from every item sold on-line (12%-23%) to Alpha Gamma Xi. We are very passionate about this cause and are honored to be partnering with such a great organization!
@AGXiSorority2014 #alphagammaxi @swans_agxi
We chose to raise awareness during this holiday season (although National Domestic Violence Awareness is spotlighted during the month of October), because in addition to the usual stress of the holidays, there is also of the additional stress of COVID-19 related issues. Stress from businesses and schools closing, and the fear of contracting the virus, are leaving many people out of work and financially strained, further increasing the likeliness that domestic abuse will begin, continue, or escalate.
According to a news article from NBC news, the restricted movement related to COVID-19 has resulted in increased isolation and has reduced the ability of the abused person to gain call for help or access resources because the abuser is also in the home. Additionally, shelters, legal services, and mental health resources are not always open or available because of the virus, making it difficult for an abused person to find a place to go for safety or to reach out for assistance.
Research about an increase in domestic violence amid the Coronavirus epidemic also confirms the increased prevalence of domestic violence during the past several months. An article from the American Journal of Emergency Medicine. This article states:
“Isolation may expose or worsen vulnerabilities due to a lack of established social support systems. The temporary shutdown of non-essential businesses has led to unemployed and economic strain [4]. Quarantine conditions are associated with alcohol abuse, depression, and post-traumatic stress symptoms [5]. Stay-at-home orders may cause a catastrophic milieu for individuals whose lives are plagued by domestic violence (DV).”
So where can one turn to for assistance if they are living in an unsafe, abusive relationship? Here are resources:
Here are some National organizations that work with domestic violence victims.