Posted in: Lawyers › Young Lawyers Division
The South Carolina Bar Young Lawyers Division’s Voices Against Violence Committee is hosting a virtual 5K to benefit a South Carolina domestic violence shelter struggling to recover after a section of the building was engulfed in flames over the summer.
The Laurens County Safe Home, which serves survivors in Abbeville, Laurens and Saluda counties, suffered a catastrophic fire in July, and paired with a global health crisis and slowing economy, is struggling to recover and get back to its mission of serving the underserved. When the VAV Committee learned of the event, committee co-chairs Teckla Henderson and Katherine Orville sprang into action.
“This tragedy was, of course, compounded by the novel coronavirus and the need to hide, protect, and shelter victims in a socially-distanced manner,” the duo said. “In response, Voices Against Violence decided to take action. Instead of hosting our annual Necessities Drive, we chose to host a virtual wellness event to support the Laurens County Safe Home.”
The donation fee to enter is $25, and all proceeds will benefit Laurens County Safe Home. Participants can choose their own path and complete the course any time from Oct. 23-25. To prove completion of the race, post a picture on social media tagging the SC Bar YLD and using #VAVVirtual5K.
“Our hope is that members of the community and the Bar who faithfully support VAV initiatives every year will take advantage of this opportunity to support a shelter in need, and the virtual aspect of this event means all of that support can be given safely,” said Henderson and Orville.
The Committee’s mission, according to Henderson and Orville, is to serve the community by exposing domestic violence issues in South Carolina and by advocating for resources to address them. The Committee works closely with the South Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (SCCADVASA) and encourages anyone who is dealing with a domestic violence issue to contact SCCADVASA. The organization is partnered with 22 domestic and sexual violence service providers across the state who provide direct support to survivors.
“It is our job to ensure these service providers have the tools and resources survivors need to find safety, healing and access to justice,” said Patricia S. Ravenhorst, General Counsel for SCCADVASA. “In addition to counseling and shelter, many survivors also find the need for civil legal assistance, which is why we are thrilled to see South Carolina attorneys stepping up to fill this critical need by offering their time and services at no or low cost to victims. It is our hope that many more attorneys will answer the call.”
If you are interested in volunteering with SCCADVASA partner agencies, fill out this interest form.