The organizer of “Eat Dessert First,” Brian Shortt, likes to say, “There is no such thing as a bad pie.”
He’s right, but Eat Dessert First exists, for all its delicious whimsy, because of a sad fact of our society.
No bad pies, but there are bad homes.
Homes where one partner, usually female, lives in fear of violence, assault, or other mistreatment. It could be physical, sexual, or emotional, but it’s all dangerous. Anyone who has ever been victimized, or works to assist victims, knows that such terrible behavior is not just a Ray Rice thing.
Helping Hands Against Violence, the beneficiary of Saturday’s pie contest (see page A5 for details) provides shelter, advocacy and support for women in abusive situations. Working quietly, HHADV has proven effective in giving women a safe place and a fresh start.
But as a non-profit, it depends on community support. Kudos to the Shortts for their generosity in stepping back up to revive the event. As Helping Hands’ Stephanie Irving put it, “Helping Hands seeks to provide a peaceful, safe and violence-free life, and it exists because of the generosity of community members and organizations which seem to find so many creative ways to give back to our organization.”
Domestic violence is a real thing in this community just as it is in any other. Supporting “Eat Dessert First” by entering the contest or just coming out to cheer on the bakers and buying a slice of pie is one way to help change that fact. Here are two others:
n Attend the forum on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Oct. 7 from 6-7 p.m. at Hood River County Library. (Details on page A1.). Irving and other panelists from Gorge agencies and organizations will address the prevalence of the issue, their needs to continue supporting victims, and their hopes for increased awareness. Panelists will share initiatives that are at work in our community, and best practices moving forward. The forum is open to the public.
n Enter the Harvest Quilt drawing. The annual benefit project, this year serving Helping Hands, is on a kind of tour of Hood River – currently at Twiggs on Oak and soon to move to Rosauers, with raffle ticket sales going to a good cause. You have until Oct. 18, at Harvest Fest, to buy a ticket and perhaps win the quilt.
It’s a beautiful, colorful 10-by-10 quilt, a work of art hand-made and donated by local citizens. Talk about helping hands.
Last year Helping Hands, the organization, provided 4,036 safe nights for women and their children, answered 135 crisis calls, provided 2,928 follow-ups with survivors, assisted 19 women at the emergency room, and created 158 safety plans. “With a three-person staff, Helping Hands would not be able to do all the work we do without generosity of time and funds from community members and local organizations,” Irving said.
“First and foremost, we provide a safe home for women to come to when they are fleeing a domestic violence or sexual assault situation. Once they are situated, our advocates help them get back up on their feet, navigate the system, provide personal support, connect them with counselors, support them through restraining orders and court appearance, help them find funding for housing, guide them through a job search. In short, our advocates help give them their wings toward — ultimately — living a safe and violent free life.”
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