STATE PROJECT

The Northford Women's Club with the help of Harney & Sons Teas recently hosted a non-event fund raiser in support of the CT Food Bank. Harney & Sons Teas, based in Millerton, NY, has been a leading producer of gourmet teas for over 25 years. With their generous donation of gourmet tea bags, the Northford Women's Club sent out samples with each letter inviting people to "sit back and have a cup of tea on us." The club asked recipients, if they chose, to send us a check in a self-addressed, enclosed stamped envelope or to make a donation online using PayPal at http://www.gfwcct.org/GFWC/html/donate.html.
The club raised a total of $680. The check was presented to Janet Kniffin of the CT Food Bank on Tuesday, February 28. Janet said that this money will buy two tons of fresh produce for the CT Food Bank. If you are interested in doing a tea fund raiser, contact State Project Chairman, Patty Meglio, at info@northfordwomensclub.org

GFWC Windsor Woman's Club

     The GFWC Windsor Woman's Club, a member of the General Federation of Women's Clubs' (GFWC), recently sponsored an informational session at the Windsor Senior Center for the CT Coalition Against Domestic Violence (CCADV).

left to right: Karen Buszczak, (GFWC Windsor Woman's Club member), Karen Jarmoc, (Executive Director, CCADV and a member of the Enfield Woman's Club), Ginny Conroy, (GFWC Windsor Woman's Club President), Barbara Davis, (GFWC Windsor Woman's Club member), Representative David Baram, Jo Ann Calnen, (GFWC/CT State President), and Representative Peggy Sayers (a member of the Windsor Locks Woman's Club).

    Karen Jarmoc, (Executive Director, CCADV), shared the following; there are more than 54,000 victims in Connecticut annually that are served by various facilities that CCADV oversees. She emphasized that the Domestic Violence Hot Line (888-774-2900) is not just for emergencies, but can help victims access various services throughout the state, including how to receive shelter information or just someone to talk to. This phone number is "manned" 24/7. When you call this number, it automatically links you to your local domestic violence facility.

     There are 16 homicides annually due to domestic violence. Precipitating factors that occur before a victim is murdered include a restraining order due to expire, a child custody case due date, the victim moving or starting a new life. 1/3 of all criminal arrests are domestic violence cases.

     Two years ago, members of the GFWC/CT Clubs worked with CCADV and a Legislative Task Force (of which Representatives Baram and Sayers were members), to present legislation (which was passed), that would provide staff coverage 24/7 for the shelters throughout the state of Connecticut. Karen thanked everyone in attendance for their past support and said she hopes they would continue to support CCADV. One area CCADV will focus on this legislative session is getting restraining orders to be in effect for up to 1 year; presently, they have to be reinstated every 6 months, and this process is very intimidating to victims in that they have to face their abuser in court and frequently loose valuable time from work.

     Karen mentioned that CCADV would like to expand protection to teens and add stalking as a behavior that would warrant law enforcement officers taking preventive action.

     CCADV is a social change organization, working at the state and national level to create and implement policy changes to strengthen Connecticut's response to domestic violence. Please go to: www.ctcadv.orgto learn more about this meaningful and worthwhile group of caring individuals.