Friends of Help End Abuse for Life (HEAL) in Longview Washington are launching a fund raising effort in support of the Nest’s Children Art Therapy Program. Georgia Guse’ and her kids, Samantha and Adam Thompson, are organizing a social networking event committed to raising art supplies for the children of the Nest, a Domestic Violence Shelter in Ruidoso Downs, NM.
Guse’ has been a long time friend of Coleen Widell, HEAL’s Executive Director. The two have been close friends though college in Washington State, but fell out of touch for almost a decade. Then, they reconnected through facebook.
“After reading HEAL’s facebook posts and the newspaper articles about the children’s program, I felt like I needed to help,” Guse’ said. “I was a single mom too, we struggled to make ends meet. I was falling apart half of the time, I was trying to do my best for my kids. You learn to put one foot in front of the other and just keep on marching, people helped me when I needed it, so now it is my turn to help someone else.”
Guse’ divorced her verbally-abusive husband more than twenty years ago. Samantha was 4, and her youngest Gordon was only 9 months old. They had a very difficult road, but their life experiences have made them who they are today. She is so very proud of the wonderful caring young adults they are today. She attributes her survival to the help of friends, family and random acts of kindness from strangers.
Now Guse’ is the stranger helping residents of the Nest. She and her kids are raising supplies for the Nest’s Art Therapy Program through Guse’s Gourmet Coffee’s facebook page. Guse’s is collecting items at her coffee shop and at Sloan’s Flooring and Scrap Happy, all businesses located in downtown Longview.
The Children’s Program needs journals, craft kits & supplies, construction paper, glitter, glue, beads, clay, paint, books, educational DVD’s with a positive message, play dough, crayons, markers, paint & paint brushes, display albums & books, decorative stickers and any art supplies are needed supplies.
Miriam Moreno started the children’s program with a $100 gift card donated by Ruidoso Downs Wal-Mart manager. Raymond Simpson. Since its inception, the children’s program has really changed the mood of the kids at the Nest. According to Moreno, “The majority of our resources were concentrated on women, but with this program, the children are the center of attention. “Just the act of sitting down with a child and creating something together is very therapeutic. These children have their own stories. They need an outlet and the children’s program is able to provide the children comfort, education and a voice.”
“I understand the burden the women of the Nest carry,” Guse’ says. “As a mom, you want to make sure your kids are alright first and foremost. The kindness of many people helped me when I was facing challenging times, as a single mom with two kids. I want these moms to know they can make it through and that there are people out there willing to encourage them and cheer on their successes.”
The Nest and its staff are available to assist and guide women and children who are victims of domestic violence. Each year, the program at the Nest continues to expand in response to the increased need for services.
Widell says, “The families that walk through our doors are escaping unspeakable violence. Our goal is to empower them to build their skills and self-esteem, become healthier and stronger in the process, and to prepare them for the next chapter. We help them navigate the difficult road and achieve success. We could not do this without the generous support of our friends and the kindness of strangers.”
The Youth and Family Link program, Sloan’s Floor covering and Scrap Happy are all pleased to donate. They are caring people who, when asked, were willing and eager to help the children of the Nest who are so deserving of our compassion.
Everyone has a network of friends. With the help of facebook, the Nest is reaching out to all of our friends and our friend’s friends. Together, each person in the network chain is making a difference.
Guse’, who manages her family coffee roasting business north of Portland Oregon, and her family are changing lives of women and children in Lincoln County, almost 2,000 miles away.
You can donate items at any of these three locations in Longview, WA:
Sloan’s Floor Covering
1064 12th Ave
Longview, Washington 98632
360-575-8055
www.sloansfloorcovering.com
Scrap Happy
1323 Hemlock
Longview, Washington 98632
360-423-9625
www.scraphappylongview.blogspot.com
Guse’s Gourmet Coffee
1208 Commerce Ave
Longview, Washington 98632
360-425-8940
www.gusecoffee.com
Joe Fischer, a family friend of the Guse’s, wanted to help with the project. In lieu of donating art supplies, Fischer instead sent a financial donation to the Nest in the name of the Children’s Program. Either supplies or monetary donations are gratefully accepted at the Nest, 26374 US 70 in Ruidoso Downs, NM 88346.
To learn more about HEAL& the Nest or Guse’s Gourmet Coffee, find and “like” us on facebook or call the Nest at (575) 378-6378.
Pictured is Georgia Guse, of Guse’s Gourmet Coffee in Longview, WA., sorting through donations to the Nest’s Children’s Program.