Hands of a Friend (Manos Amigas Inc.), a domestic violence center in Green Valley is holding their annual Big Hat Easter Tea fundraiser on Saturday, March 20 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Desert Diamond Casino on I-19, at 1100 W. Pima Mine Rd. in Sahuarita. Cost is $25 per person, which includes lunch… plus the event will be featuring “Domestic Violence the Musical?”, direct out of Phoenix. Hands of a Friend staff will extend their gratitude at this Easter Tea to their many volunteers and donors.

2009 Big Hat Easter Tea

Their mission is to “provide and promote a shelter and advocacy for victims in need of escaping domestic violence and/or sexual assault through HELP, HEALTH, HINDSIGHT, HEALING, HONOR AND HAPPINESS.”

Their DV shelter, a 28 bed facility called Genesis House, is a transitional domestic violence and/or sexual assault shelter. A resident may reside in the shelter two years with an additional six months with board approval.

At the shelter is also a Poverty to Payroll program to assist victims to attain “economic justice” and financial education and stability. To accomplish this goal, this agency enlisted twenty-four businesses and/or professionals from the community for the program to lend their expertise in various fields of employment, to help the residents attain earning capacity as heads of household. Read more here about this Poverty to Payroll program on their website. What a fantastic partnership of community members, all donating their time.

This organization (founded in 2006) is amazingly not funded by any state or federal money. They raise all the money themselves for this shelter and their ongoing programs for the residents, and have NO paid staff. What a wonderful, generous group of helpful individuals. No wonder they call themselves “hands of a friend.” They also operate 2 high-end men’s and women’s resale clothing stores in Green Valley. The first store opened in 2007.

For more information, see their website at http://www.domesticviolencehelp.us/, or call the Crisis Line at 520-648-3589. Mailing address is P. O. Box 2097, Green Valley, Az, 85622, email address is manosamigas@cox.net.

The founder/director of Hands of a Friend is dedicated, community leader Patti O’Berry who sits on various statewide Domestic Violence committees.

Having once been a staff attorney for an Americorps Domestic Violence victims project (back in Hawaii), I can attest to the seriousness of this need for shelter and advocacy for victims, of all ages and backgrounds. And their program to help residents get education and employment expertise is crucial to leaving their abuser permanently.

Please help this group by donating money or your volunteer time (application is online at their website), or attending their upcoming Big Hat Easter Tea party on March 20.

And stop by their clothing shops while in Green Valley. One is DaZee’s at 231 W. Duval Rd. (Suite C), 520-399-4671, and the other is DaZee’s Too Men’s Wear across the parking lot.

Please lend a hand to help Hands of a Friend.