November Newsletter
A Season of Thankfulness
We are ending November overwhelmed with thankfulness. Thankful for the many volunteers who keep YWCA Dayton going. Thankful for our supporters who make our work possible. Thankful for everyone who has joined us on our mission of eliminating racism and empowering women.
Our abundant list of thankfulness this Thanksgiving season includes
St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church, who you can see in the photo above, serving a beautiful brunch the day before Thanksgiving to the women and children we serve. The holidays can be difficult and isolating for survivors of domestic violence. We are thankful for St. Luke for working for letting the women and families in our shelter and housing know that they are not alone.
Stacey Lawson and family for donating the Thanksgiving day meal for the women and families living at YWCA Dayton. At a time of trauma and hardship, this gift showed our clients that they have dignity and worth.
Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church who served dinner to women living in our domestic violence shelter, at our annual Survivor Banquet. The theme of this year's banquet was "I am enough" and we are so thankful for Macedonia Dayton for making our guests feel worthy.
Our Giving Tuesday supporters who raised more than $7,000, giving the Gift of Empowerment to the women, children, families, and all survivors served by the YW.
The 30 volunteers who came out to the annual Dayton Turkey Trot, which chose YWCA Dayton as the race beneficiary in appreciation for the YW volunteers staffing the race.
Our Holiday Market supporters, who have already been flooding our office with donations for our pop-up market of holiday gifts. The market is available each year for our clients to do their holiday shopping for free.
Queens Village Dayton for their Natural Hair November donation drive, benefiting our domestic violence shelters.
Introducing: Women of Influence Class of 2024
It's officially Women of Influence season! We were thrilled earlier this month to unveil our 2024 Women of Influence Honorees.
In case you missed it, please join us in congratulating:
• Barbara Bostick, Consultant, You & Me Inc.
• Belinda Kenley, Vice President at Energy Optimizers USA
• Janice Culver, Community volunteer and philanthropist
• Nozipo Glenn, Community advocate
• Sarah Hackenbracht, CEO of the Greater Dayton Area Hospital Association
• And our Lifetime Achievement Award winner Pat McDonald
The six women we plan to honor in March have worked to break down barriers, build connections, and help the most vulnerable among us thrive. That is the mission work YWCA Dayton has done for more than 150 years, and we are honored to lift up these women in pursuit of that vision.
We can't wait to celebrate on March 14, 2024! Read more and get your tickets at www.ywcadayton.org/womenofinfluence.
Holiday Market
It is once again time for the annual Holiday Market at YWCA Dayton and without your support, we could not do the work we do.
Autonomy and choice are critical to a survivor's healing journey. So instead of a Giving Angle tree or similar set up, we will set up a pop-up market stocked with free toys, self-care products, and essential household items, so that survivors can choose their own gifts.
You can download our packet below with all the details on how to participate! We are also accepting volunteers for our market at this link.
YW Support Groups are open to all
YWCA Dayton's Rape Crisis Center offers free and confidential support groups open to any adult survivor. Virtual options available. Groups resume in January.
We offer the Survivors of Sexual Assault Support Group, held 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesdays in partnership with Family Services of Dayton. To RSVP call Family Services at 937-222-9481.
Trauma doesn't only impact our minds -- it can also disregulate the body and nervous system. Join us 5:30-7 p.m. Thursdays for Body Talk, our support group and trauma-informed yoga series held with Day Yoga, which focuses on healing and restoration in a safe, supportive environment. Yoga mats and workbooks provided. Email rapecrisis@ywcadayton.org or call/text 937-321-6288 to RSVP.
Thank you to our Hope's Closet volunteers
YWCA Dayton is proud to offer Hope's Closet as a resource to our clients. Hope's Closet is our in-house store, stocked with donations and free to use by the women, children and families who use our services.
This resource is only possible because of the hundreds of volunteers who give their time each year to sort donations and serve clients. A special thank you to the volunteers who have helped out this past quarter including groups with:
Beta Theta Pi, University of Dayton
University of Dayton's Business Fraternity
Chesterton Academy of St. Joseph
Empowered Community Services
PNC
Riverscape Career Tech
Chaminade Julienne Catholic High School
Want to get involved? Reach out to volunteers@ywcadayton.org to learn about upcoming opportunities.