West Bay Rotary is raising money for New Hope for Women and you can help.

It is a West Bay Rotary meeting tradition that members donate money to local charities and nonprofit organizations by putting money into buckets on the table at each meeting. Because they are meeting via Zoom these days, they are now calling these buckets in cyberspace.

In order to increase donations, West Bay Rotary decided to open this up to the community. If you would like to donate to this month’s recipient of the buckets in cyberspace, New Hope for Women, please click the donate
button on their website at westbayrotaryofmaine.org.

New Hope for Women is Midcoast Maine’s only domestic violence resource center providing support to people affected by domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking through a combination of advocacy, prevention, and education services. Their range of services spans from court accompaniment to long and short-term housing, group healing, a 24/7 helpline, and educational services in over 80 schools.

“We know that incidences of domestic violence increase in both number and intensity when social crises occur,” said New Hope for Women Development Director Joan LeMole, in a Rotary news release.

In response to the pandemic, the agency continued to provide a 24/7 helpline despite working from home, implemented a chat service to allow those fearing retaliation from a nearby abuser another option for reaching an advocate, and collaborated with local lodging sites to provide longer-term sheltering than they typically provide. During the 2019 fiscal year, New Hope for Women received 2,707 calls. This increased to 3,263 in 2020. Electronic contacts rose from 388 to 1,071 while bed nights increased from 203 nights to 3,058.

This year New Hope for Women celebrates 40 years as Midcoast Maine’s only fully accredited domestic violence resource center.

“We know that 2021 will be filled with expectation, promise and challenges,” said New Hope’s Executive Director, Rebekah Paredes. “Our staff is poised to take on these challenges and ready to convert them into opportunities.”

For more information about New Hope for Women, please visit their website at newhopeforwomen.org.

Donations may be made online at westbayrotaryofmaine.org or mailed to Rotary Club of West Bay Charitable Foundation, PO Box 1033, Camden, ME 04843. Please note on the check if you would like the donation to benefit New Hope for Women.

West Bay Rotary meets on Thursday mornings from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m., currently via Zoom. If you would like to join them on a future Zoom meeting, please email gabendrothwestbay@gmail.com.