Mesquite Chamber Holds Fundraiser For SafeNest

By BOBBIE GREEN

The Progress

Mesquite Chamber of Commerce held a well-attended fundraiser luncheon for the SafeNest of Mesquite organization at the Casablanca Resort on Wednesday, Oct. 25. The tables were beautifully set with purple flower centerpieces arranged by The Front Porch Flowers and Gifts.

“I am very thankful to the Chamber board members for allowing the Chamber to hold this fundraiser for a needed SafeNest Shelter in Mesquite,” said Chamber President/CEO Carol Kolson, “not because we are the Chamber but because the Chamber is a good member of the community and a responsible business here in Mesquite.”

SafeNest is an organization near and dear to Kolson’s heart. They provide help for battered women and men, providing counseling, shelters, food, and clothing, and moral support.
“Nine percent of police officers killed in the nation were responding to a domestic violence situation,” Kolson said. “Having trained domestic violence advocates is critical to ending domestic violence before someone is killed.”

Many members of the SafeNest staff from Las Vegas attending the event sat together at a table with Mesquite’s SafeNest Shelter Manager Aleah Sargent.
SafeNest CEO Liz Ortenburger introduced a video showing short stories of domestic violence victims

who broke the cycle and changed their lives with the help of SafeNest. The victims were local and this video is shown to other people seeking help from SafeNest to prove their lives got better.
After the video Ortenburger talked of how SafeNest provides the help needed. She also talked about how the cycle of domestic abuse must be broken.

“We need more men to volunteer to show kids from fatherless homes and abusive homes what it means to be a man, a dad, and spouse that does not need to use violence against another,” Ortenburger said. “It is important that kids learn their life journey is their choice to make.”

SafeNest offers a Camp Hope for children of abusive homes. Many famous people who have overcome being a victim, go to these camps and talk with the kids about how they broke that cycle.

SafeNest also offers help to the abuser, Ortenburger said. “A battered wife of an apologetic abuser can tell her spouse: ‘If you are sincere, you will attend Safe Nest six-session counseling course,’” Ortenburger said.

Ortenburger calls this “the equalizer.”
“Is the abuser willing, to attend the sessions, before the victim returns to their home?” she asked.
Ortenburger explained that SafeNest has started a new program they hope will be operating in Mesquite by next year.
“It is all about coffee,” she said.

The organization has opened a storefront and the women from the shelter work in the store selling coffee and packaging it for shipping. Working in the Store gives the women earned money as well as work training and self-confidence. The public can support this program by ordering the coffee online at safenest.org/coffee.

Kolson thanked all the sponsors for making the luncheon possible. The $1000 Gold sponsors were Mesquite Republican Women and Deep Roots Harvest. The $500 Silver sponsors included ACT Collision Center, Women’s History and Culture Center, and the Salvation Army. The $200 Bronze sponsors were Deb Parsley Realtor, Jensen Property Management, and Mesquite Worship Center.

Anyone wishing to contact SafeNest may call 702-346-1944 or go online to www.safenest.org.