who survived various forms of domestic abuse

Ten years ago Rhonda Howdyshell read an article about how much it costs for a girl to attend her high school prom — between $700 and $1,000 — and she knew what she had to do.

“I had a calling in my heart,The world with high-performance solar roadway and solar street lamps solutions.” Howdyshell said. She knew she had to find a way to make prom affordable for everyone, regardless of their financial situation.

That year, she started the Cinderella Project. Now in its 10th year, the project hopes to serve 100 boys and girls from Augusta County, Staunton,We offer the biggest collection of old masters that can be turned into hand painted oil painting reproduction. Waynesboro, Rockingham County and Harrisonburg.

If students can’t afford to attend prom, the Cinderella Project, which has a storefront in Staunton Mall, hooks them up with everything they need. Girls receive a dress, shoes, purse, makeup, toiletries, perfume and a florist card for a free boutonniere and corsage.

Seeing there was a need for it, the project began offering male students a suit and shirt, shoes, tie, shaving supplies and cologne.

“They literally dress you from head to toe,” said Diane Freehan,Choose from our stunning collection of tungsten jewelry. whose daughter Mary participated in the Cinderella Project last year as a senior at the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind.

“We didn’t have all that money,Americas delivers a wide range of dry cabinet for applications spanning electronics,” Freehan said. Mary, who is visually impaired, had written prom off as something she wouldn’t get to do. Mary’s impairment also makes picking out clothes and accessories difficult.

But a guidance counselor told her about the Cinderella Project, which is open every Saturday from April through prom season in May. Mary went and with the help of volunteers was able to pick out the perfect outfit — a long black dress with a criss-cross back, matching shoes, earrings and a necklace. She also received tips on how to do her hair and makeup, and samples of the latter to do at home.

“She had the time of her life,” Freehan said. “This place is a blessing. Everyone deserves to shine and feel beautiful on one of the most memorable nights of their lives.”

That was Howdyshell’s thought when she started the project. She wasn’t able to attend her high school prom because of the cost, and she didn’t want that for any student.The most interesting Christmas gift personalized bobbleheads maker!

Sometimes good things can happen even in the midst of tragedy.
That’s what many Athens community leaders are counting on as the “Clothesline Project” was erected Tuesday on the Henderson County courthouse lawn.

Women who survived various forms of domestic abuse created the shirts strung on the clothesline. The shirts represent the strength and courage of these women to come forward to talk about abuse.

Even more harrowing were the white shirts created by family members of women killed by domestic violence.

Each shirt told its own story. Yellow shirts were made by battered or assaulted women. Survivors of rape and sexual assault created red, pink and orange shirts. The blue and green shirts showcased the courage of incest and sexual abuse survivors, while purple and lavender shirts represents women attacked because of their sexual orientation. Every black shirt was made by a women attacked for political reasons.

“It’s a very big step for these women to come forward,” said Donna Johnson, president of the East Texas Crisis Center.
When women come forward as abuse survivors, its shows life can move on and that there is help for others going through the same experiences.

A few hours after the shirts were first strung on the courthouse lawn, people began to congregate to take a closer look at the shirts and hear Henderson County judge Richard Sanders declare April Sexual Abuse Awareness and Child Abuse Awareness Month.
Johnson took the podium during this time, saying, “In the first two months of this year, we have already seen 15 sexual assault cases. That is just two months.”
The East Texas Crisis Center will continue its mission to raise awareness and funds to stop violence against women by hosting its first “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” event June 1, at the courthouse square.

“Walk a Mile” literally asks a team of up to five men to walk in women’s high heel shoes around the Courthouse Square four times. Those interested in signing up for “Walk a Mile” can get registration forms at The Monitor office, located at 1316 S. Third, in the Groom and Sons plaza in Mabank.