For Kathleen’s birthday, all she wanted was for her friends and family to donate items to help survivors of domestic violence at Child and Family Services Haven House. After seeing a LinkedIn post highlighting Haven House’s current needs, Kathleen reached out to several people and asked for help.

“Haven House is very near and dear to my heart,” emphasized Kathleen. “The work they do and the impact they have on the community is so important.”

Nineteen years ago, Kathleen became a mom for the first time when she gave birth to her daughter. Instead of being a time of great joy, she was dealing with emotional violence in the home and turned to Haven House for help. At Haven House, Kathleen received counseling and assistance navigating a complicated court system. Now, Kathleen and her daughter are thriving and living a life free from emotional violence.

When the donations poured in, Kathleen was overjoyed by her friends and family’s generosity. “It was like Christmas morning,” stated Kathleen. “I couldn’t believe it! My living room was full of donations.”

When Kathleen and her daughter delivered the donations, she expressed her gratitude towards everyone who works at Haven House. “The most impactful part of the journey was knowing someone believed my story,” reflected Kathleen. “I am forever grateful.”

Thank you, Kathleen, for giving back to Haven House on your special day! If you are interested in donating to Haven House, contact Michael Bloom, Community Relations Coordinator at mbloom@cfsbny.org.