National Volunteer Appreciation Week

Mama Ray's Have A Heart Jazz & Blues Benefit

Each year, for the past 19 years, Diane “Mama” Ray has headed up the fundraiser “Have a Heart”, a jazz and blues benefit for Hope House. This dedication started back when she was an administrative assistant at Hope House and viewed, from the frontlines, the horrendous effect domestic violence had on so many women. She also saw, first hand, the hope that many gained by coming to Hope House and began to understand just what it takes to make that happen—financially and otherwise.

Mama Ray took it upon herself to do something to help and decided to champion us outside of work too. She decided to become our advocate in the way she knew best—through her considerable talent. And she didn’t stop there. She also got her friends involved—some of the best jazz and blues bands in the area—and Have a Heart was born. The annual benefit takes place at the venerable B.B.'s Lawnside BBQ, a Kansas City favorite since 1990 known for its great music and bar-b-que. 

JOIN US for the 19th ANNUAL JAZZ & BLUES BENEFIT hosted by MAMA RAY!

April 13^th from 1pm-9pm
BB's Lawnside Bar-B-Q
1205 E. 85th Street, Kansas City, MO

You can be sure you’ll eat and drink well, hear some AMAZING MUSIC, partake of live auctions between bands and generally have a good time all the while supporting a great cause…us!

This year features:
Mark Valentine & The Ticklers
Brian Ruskin & Friends—with Special Guest Julie Turner
Funk Syndicate
Kathleen Kunkler & The One Night Stand Band
Everette DeVan Quartet
Eboni Fondren
Sharon Thompson
The Old Crows
Levee Town
And Many More Special Guests!

Tickets are $8 in advance at https://9404.thankyou4caring.org/events/have-a-heart or $10 at the door.

We hope to see you there!

NNEDV Domestic Violence Counts: Census 2013 Report

 

For the eighth consecutive year the National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) conducted a one-day, unduplicated count of adults and children seeking domestic violence service in the U.S. The annual census, always on September 17, documents the number of individuals seeking services in a single 24-hour period, the types of services requested, the number of service requests that went unmet due to a lack of resources, and the issues and barriers that domestic violence programs face as they strive to provide services to victims of domestic violence. This report is instrumental in raising awareness about domestic violence and the incredible work that local domestic violence programs do every day. 

Here are some highlights, for just that one day, in the state of Missouri:

2,163 Victims Served in One Day 

• 1,392 domestic violence victims (679 children and 713 adults) found refuge in emergency shelters or transitional housing provided by local domestic violence programs.

• 771 adults and children received non-residential assistance and services, including counseling, legal advocacy, and children’s support groups
• 20,267 Hotline Calls Answered

Services Provided by Local Programs

• Individual Support or Advocacy 95%
• Emergency Shelter 77%
• Children’s Support or Advocacy 77%
• Transportation 69%
• Group Support or Advocacy 52%
• Advocacy Related to Public Benefits/TANF/Welfare 48%
• Advocacy Related to Mental Health 45%
• Court Advocacy/Legal Accompaniment 43% 

Yet, even with this remarkable amount of services given, there were 9,641 unmet requests for services on that day, of which 60% (5,778) were for Housing. So there is a lot to be done.

The full 2013 National Domestic Violence Counts Report is available here Full Report (PDF, 16 pages) and the Missouri summary is available here Missouri Report (PDF, 1page).