Two Local Shelter Advocates Nominated for National Award

Help End Abuse for Life (HEAL) is proud to announce two employees who were nominated for the national advocacy recognition, the Unsung Shero Award. A Shero is a woman who is an advocate for empowering other women, or supporting positive change for women, and who may have experienced or been a victim of domestic abuse. It is an annual campaign sponsored by Johnson Products Company.

 

 Patricia Thompson

 

Patricia Thompson radiates energy. After nine years in the field and one attempt at retiring, she remains in the forefront of the fight against domestic violence as one of the Nest’s Shelter Supervisors. Thompson, who has been with the Nest for three years, spent the six previous years working with COPE in Alamogordo.

 

 Thompson’s career as an advocate began while she was living in her own domestic abuse nightmare. Although Thompson had gotten away from her abusive partner, she continued to live in fear. “I had to work, but I never felt safe.” Thompson, a licensed cosmetologist, owned her own salon for many years until fear caused her to close it down. “I felt like I was living in a fishbowl. The door could open and anyone could come right in. When I saw the advertisement for the position at the Shelter, I have to say my first instinct was self-preservation. I knew that at least for the time I was on the clock, I would be in a safe place and my abuser wouldn’t be able to get to me.”

 

 The passion to help others was ignited and Thompson has been unable to shut it off. According to Coleen Widell, Executive Director for HEAL, “Terry has been a marvelous addition to our team at the Nest. I remember when she came to interview with us. I asked her why she wanted to work at the Nest and she said, “This is where I am supposed to be.” I believe she was right. We have watched her grow from a nervous Advocate in a new system to a solid, confident Supervisor, whom her staff looks up to and the shelter residents run to for support.”

 

 Since beginning her work in the domestic violence field, Thompson has seen many changes, most of them not good. “I remember shelters being emptier back in the day. Women would come and stay for a few days and leave. These days, the shelter is always at or near capacity and the abuse has escalated to unimaginable levels.” However, Thompson remains optimistic. “In the past six months, I have worked with at least 10 survivors who permanently left their abusers and put their lives back together,” she says with a warm, knowing smile.

 

 Thompson counts herself lucky to live in Ruidoso. “Our community supports us and as the financial crisis threatens to cut still more funding from domestic violence shelters, we need this. We need people to get involved, whether by volunteering at the Nest, donating clothing, household goods or furniture to Sweet Charity or just spreading the message about the Nest. People need to know we are here to help.”

 

 Thompson believes abuse continues when the abusers are successful at isolating their victims. “If you hear a scream, report it. The abuser is counting on you not to get involved. Get involved.”

 

 Thompson teaches empowerment, prevention and self-esteem classes at the Nest. “The classes are a great way for residents to connect with each other and realize that they are not alone,” says Thompson. Thompson helps resident reclaim their independence by assisting them with finding employment, clothing, resources, jobs, childcare, returning to school and providing transportation. “Before 2007 when the Nest opened, these women had nowhere to go. Women and children were forced to endure the violence. But we’re here now, we’re strong and we’re waiting to help the next woman who comes through the door.”

 

 Pictured is Patricia Thompson, Nest Shelter Supervisor, reviewing the weekly grocery list with clients.

 

 

 

 Celina De La Garza’s experience as a bridal consultant at Robinson May helped her to shape Sweet Charity Resale Boutique, the Nest’s resale shop, into a bustling boutique. It is De La Garza’s own experience as a domestic violence victim that fuels her passion to help victims of domestic violence.

 

 Seven and a half years ago, De La Garza was in the throes of a turbulent domestic violence relationship. After a police officer witnessed her then husband beating her in a parking lot, De La Garza ended up in an Alamogordo Shelter, but explains, “I just wasn’t ready to leave. I believed he would change.” De La Garza explains that the change came from within. “It took a while but I finally grasped that I didn’t deserve to be abused. Once I internalized that belief, I was ready to make a change, and this is what I hope for all of our residents at the Nest,” she says confidently.

 

 Celina has been manager of Sweet Charity since it opened in May of 2010. Her personal story has motivated many folks to volunteer at the store and others to just simply open up to her. “Last week, a woman came in and asked me for a hug, two minutes later, she was crying on my shoulder sharing her own abuse story, something she had always kept to herself.” One of Sweet Charity’s regular volunteers is volunteering at the store because of De La Garza’s story. De La Garza counts herself fortunate that she is able to give back. “It was the best thing I ever did- to share my story.”

 

 Celina was one of the brave women who attended the HEAL Board of Director’s Annual Retreat this summer. The room was filled with both seasoned and newer Directors. Celina shared both the horror she had endured, and the great optimism she now holds in helping other women. Her story brought tears to the eyes of many of the organization’s leaders, who had known Celina as their Store Manager but not as a Survivor. “I was absolutely astounded at her story. First, that the violence was so horrendous. Then, that it had even happened to her at all. I had no idea how strong this woman is,” said Mike Myers.

 

 Sweet Charity is open Tuesday thru Saturday. Revenue generated from the store supports the Nest Domestic Shelter. Clients at the Nest often leave their abusive situations with just the clothing on their back. De La Garza enjoys the chance to take a client around the store and pick out clothes, shoes and jackets. “I just had a young woman from the shelter come in who needed black pants, black tennis shoes and white shirts to start her new job. There is no cost to the residents who shop at the Nest, but can you imagine if we weren’t here? Many people don’t realize that starting a job often requires an investment and many of these women start out with nothing. A job is fundamental towards acquiring independence,” De La Garza explains.

 

 De La Garza’s goal is to network with the community and further spread the word about HEAL. “I want the community to know about all of the great products we have here for sale. We also have needs that the community can meet as they’re cleaning out their closets. For example, we need furniture, house wares, home furnishings, jackets and children’s clothes. Sweet Charity offers the entire community a simple way to get involved and support the Nest.”