On Friday evening, May 9, business was a little bit different than usual at The Jewelry Store at Martinsville. Store owner Nancy Ledger hosted a VIP party and open house for customers and special friends. Every guest was encouraged to bring in toiletries and other items that are always in short supply at the Resource Center of Somerset’s Victoria House, a safe and confidential place where victims of domestic abuse can go to escape an abusive relationship. The Resource Center’s Outreach Center in Hillsborough shares the need for providing everyday personal products that many others take for granted but are so important to supplement and help clients who attend regular counseling sessions as they face the challenges of living in an abusive relationship.
Nancy makes her store available for jewelry parties to help raise funds for local charities and nonprofit organizations. Her friend and customer Mary Beth Stefurak suggested sponsoring a night to help victims of domestic abuse who seek help at the Resource Center of Somerset. After contacting the Resource Center for suggestions about what was needed most, she sent out invitations asking guests to bring personal toiletries as a donation. By the end of the evening, approximately 40 guests donated not only toiletries but food to help fill the pantry and made generous cash donations as well.
Veronica Finlay, Development Coordinator for the Resource Center, was in attendance and spoke to the guests about the mission of the Resource Center and the importance of community support to help and empower victims of domestic abuse recover from the crisis and move forward to creating a better life for themselves and in many cases, their children as well. “The more people are aware of how prevalent and devastating domestic abuse is in our community, the more they want to help victims get through the trauma,” said Veronica. “Community support through donations big or small helps make the journey to recovery a little bit easier.”
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The Resource Center has a special Mother’s Day Diaper Drive this week and The Jewelry Store is serving as a drop off point where donors can deliver packages of new, wrapped diapers for our clients with babies and toddlers.
The Jewelry Store at Martinsville is located at 1944 Washington Valley Road, Martinsville, NJ 08836. The Resource Center of Somerset is a private, nonprofit serving victims of domestic abuse in Somerset County for over 35 years.
