- April 24, 2024
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As attendees at the Family Life Center gala made their way into the Hammock Dunes ballroom, they were greeted by three rows of T-shirts hanging on a clothesline. The shirts were decorated by residents at the Flagler County shelter to tell the story of their experience with domestic violence and sexual assault. The shirts, part of the Clothesline Project, reflect pain, frustration and fear, but at the same time, depict hope, healing and optimism for the future.
“We must do more to end the perpetration of domestic and sexual violence in Flagler County,” said Rebecca DeLorenzo, vice-chair of the Family Life Center Board of Directors.
The inaugural event, held Wednesday, April 15, raised over $9,000 for the Family Life Center, Flagler County’s domestic violence and sexual assault center. Of that, $5,700 was raised through donations from the attendees.
The six-bedroom, 32-bed shelter hosts on average 15 families and 13 children a month and spends most of the year at or over capacity.
“There’s no sugar coating it,” DeLorenzo said. “We need more money to keep operating at our current levels, but also to meet the growing needs for services that exist in our community.”
In 2014, 416 domestic violence and sexual assault arrests were made in Flagler County, making Flagler the 37th highest out of 67 counties in Florida. From Oct. 2014 to April 8, 2015, there were 10 arrests related to sexual assault, with eight of the 10 victims being juveniles.
“We can do better, we must do better,” DeLorenzo said. Four wooden silhouettes of women stood on the opposite end of the room. Each one represented a Flagler County woman who died at the hands of her abuser.
“Talking about domestic violence and sexual assault isn’t pretty,” said Family Life Center Executive Director Trish Giaccone. “Tonight, we will not walk with heavy hearts, but rather, we will join together to celebrate the strength of our survivors.”
For a photo gallery from the event, click here.
