A Letter From the CEO
JULIE DONANT
I have this picture hanging on my wall in my home titled, “House Rules.” It talks about a home that is messy and loud, and where we can make mistakes and be forgiven. A safe place to be loved. Home. It’s a place that should feel safe. Where you can be your true self.
Every day, at Domestic Violence Project, Inc., we encounter survivors who are no longer safe to be home. Perhaps they have no friends or family who are able to help. Maybe they’ve exhausted the options they have for a safe place to stay. Or maybe they were purposely kept from forming a community around them. Whatever their reason for seeking us out, we recognize that we cannot do this work alone.
People give to DVPI for many different reasons.
One donor, spurred into action after losing a close friend to domestic violence, collected and delivered every single item on our weekly needs list to our shelter last month. Another gave a donation in memory of their mother, saying, “I wish she’d had a place like DVPI to help her when she was young.”
They also give in many different ways.
A group from a local church gave their time one Saturday to help clean and beautify our space. A local business supplied the children in our shelter with new backpacks for the school year. And others give financially to ensure that we are able to provide wraparound, trauma-informed support to survivors who rely on DVPI to help them feel safe and get back on their feet.
We are proud to be a part of this community, where people look out for one another and offer what they have to those in need. We simply could not do this important work without our fellow service agencies, local businesses, and individuals, like you, who care about your neighbors and continue to invest in the support and empowerment of survivors.
As October kicks off domestic violence awareness month, I am saddened by how many lives have been lost due to domestic violence in our community this year. The fight is not over, and we must raise our voices louder for all those who suffer in silence.
Your gift makes a difference. Every time you donate, you are providing survivors with a sense of safety and reminding them that they matter. You are reminding them that someone cares about and values them, and that they have a support system. You are that support system.
We hope you’ll continue to join us in empowering and uplifting those impacted by domestic violence. Thank you for being a part of our mission.
Dine-In Event
Wednesday, Oct. 9
4 - 8 p.m. Chipotle 5097 Dressler Rd. NW Canton
Dine-In Event
Monday, Oct. 21
11 a.m. - 11 p.m.
BJ Brewhouse 6476 Strip Ave NW, North Canton
Take Back the Night
Wednesday, Oct. 23
6 p.m. The Cultural Center for the Arts
Project North Pole Starts Friday, Nov. 1
Bowling for Hope Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025 1:30 - 3:30 p.m. Park Centre Lanes
Champions of Hope Friday, June 6, 2025 DoubleTree Canton Downtown
DVPI Needs List
Non-perishable food
Laundry pods
Toilet paper
Paper towels
Baby wipes
African American hair products
Body lotion
Monetary donations
Pillows
Twin-size bedding (sheets and comforters)
Over-the-counter medication (adult and children)
Washcloths and towels
To see an up-to-date needs list, visit facebook.com/dvpiorg every Wednesday. Contact Ashley at ahuprich@dvpi.org or 330-445-2005 for questions regarding donations.
Thank You, Volunteers!
DVPI is thankful for all the individuals and organizations that give their time to make a difference. Over the summer, members from Faith Family Church spent a Saturday morning cleaning the kitchen, playroom, and other community spaces in the Canton shelter. Representatives from Amazon visited DVPI and helped organize the Founding Mother’s Shoppe, replenishing the room with newly donated items.
For more information about volunteer opportunities, please contact Ashley at 330-445-2005 or ahuprich@dvpi.org. Volunteer opportunities include office assistance, processing donations, donation pick-up, moving assistance, and yard work. Direct services opportunities are also available, including medical advocacy, childcare, shelter assistance, and answering the 24-hour hotline.
Take Back the Night
Raising Awareness about Domestic and Sexual Violence
Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, at 6 p.m., at The Cultural Center for the Arts
Please join us as we honor those who have been sexual assault, human trafficking, stalking, and
Take Back the Night raises awareness and educates the community about domestic and sexual violence. In addition to our speakers, community agencies will be available to share their resources. The event is free and open to the public.
Are you interested in a profession where you can help make a difference in the lives of those impacted by domestic violence?
DVPI is seeking candidates who want to help create and maintain safe, caring, spectful nments for survivors estic violence, assault, dating e, human king, and stalking. re information, go ed.com and search mestic Violence , Inc.
Faith Family Church Amazon
Bring Holiday Joy with DVPI’s Project North Pole
The holidays can be an especially challenging time for survivors. With the generous support of our donors, last year, over 115 families were adopted through DVPI’s Project North Pole holiday drive. Starting Nov. 1, wish lists will be available for adoption. Sponsors can select the family size that they would like to adopt, ranging from an individual to families of all sizes. All gifts must be dropped off to DVPI by Dec. 13.
If you would like to adopt a family, contact Lydia at lydiac@dvpi.org or 330-445-2002.
DVPI Awarded Human Trafficking Grant
In June of 2024, DVPI was selected to be among 32 programs in the state to receive a grant through the Ohio Domestic Violence Network (ODVN) to fund a Human Trafficking Advocate to work with survivors at both our Canton and Massillon shelters. This grant, funded by the Ohio Department of Public Safety, will allow us to be more intentional about serving human trafficking survivors and improve our ability to identify them. DVPI’s Human Trafficking Advocate will provide individualized support services and referrals to survivors and provide training and resources to the public regarding the prevalence of human trafficking within our community.
Human Trafficking:
Within the Context of Domestic Violence
Domestic violence and human trafficking are interconnected issues, both involving severe abuse and exploitation. Human trafficking within the context of domestic violence can be challenging, but it is important to understand a few of the warning signs:
Unexplained absences or isolation
Fearful or anxious behavior
Inconsistent or limited personal information
Controlled communication
Overly polite or submissive behavior
Unusual work conditions
Domestic violence can create an environment of fear and isolation, making individuals more vulnerable to trafficking, as abusers may exploit their victims’ circumstances to force or coerce them into trafficking situations. Conversely, survivors of trafficking often experience domestic violence as part of their exploitation, facing physical, emotional, or sexual abuse from traffickers who exercise extreme control over their lives.
For more information about Human Trafficking, please contact Michelle at 330-445-2000 ext. 233 or michelles@dvpi.org.
P.O. Box 9459
Canton, OH 44711-9459 www.dvpi.org
Services include:
24-Hour Hotline
2 Emergency Shelters
Legal Advocacy
Medical Advocacy
Mobile Advocacy
Peer Support
Rapid Rehousing
Transitional Housing
Randi Smuckler, President
Board of Trustees
Denise Preusser, Vice President
Ed Roth, Treasurer
Ashley Johnson, Secretary
Lucreda Boylan
PJ Chavez
Madison Connor Adenike Gbadebo
Katherine Gessner
Melissa Hoch
Patricia Johnson
Kristen Kempthorn-Hodge
From
On
through
Nicholas Milburn
Kimberly Miller
Ed Roth
Michael Zoldan
Helen Syrios, Honorary
Mark Weldon, Honorary
An estimated 13.5 million people are stalked in a one-year period in the United States.