CASA Newsletter - February 2008
A Joke?
By Linda A. Osmundson
Executive Director
CASA (Community Action Stops Abuse) Board member, Audrey Wood, and CASA staff member, Amy Harcar went out to celebrate Audrey’s birthday. They were approached by an attractive young man whose “pick up line” went something like this. “Do you know how to make a woman like you? You give her two black eyes.” Audrey and Amy were stunned for a moment at the bold assurance of his little joke. Then they both responded in a single voice, “That’s inappropriate.” Each explained they were involved with CASA and that his “joke” was just the sort of thinking that perpetuated the abuse of women. Their conversation became so intense that the man’s friend came over to rescue him. He finally said, “My lines never work!” No, that line didn’t work.
I was appalled that a man would be so bold or thoughtless or supremely confident that he would imagine a line like that work with women he didn’t know. I am sad that we have not come as far as I thought in more than 20 years of raising my voice against violence.
There is still overwhelming work to do and it takes money to reach CASA’s vision of home as a safe place. The voters have spoken. I wonder if they realize the consequences. Amendment 1 doesn't offer much relief but it does mean that the City, County and the Juvenile Welfare Board will be scrambling to cut budgets. JWB alone will lose $4.7 million that goes to help families.
What effect will the voters' decision have? There will be a reduction in services. The easiest programs to cut are those that help poor people, children and people in dangerous situations like domestic violence. There will be less police. About a third of all calls police receive are domestic violence related. There will be fewer fire fighters. Domestic abusers burn down houses and take the lives of women and children.
There will be fewer services from CASA. We receive about a million dollars in grants from the City, County and JWB combined, a third of our budget. Are you ready to privately and consistently contribute your tax savings to keep our shelter, visitation center, legal advocacy and Peacemakers programs open? That is what it takes to our services intact. We are already lean and depend on volunteers to help, but we must pay staff to work the weekends and nights and holidays when our volunteers are sleeping and playing with their families.
All families should count on a good night's sleep and time to play together. That is impossible living with domestic violence. Does the young man who spoke to Amy and Audrey understand the consequences of joking and normalizing violence against women? Does anyone care about the women, children and men that need CASA's services? A NEED FOR CASA VOLUNTEERS In February and March, CASA’s e-newsletter will feature cameo volunteer experiences at CASA. This month we look at a volunteer experience at the shelter and in the CASA Collections Thrift Shoppe. We hope you’ll be inspired to begin a volunteer experience of your own!
At the shelter, Jean, a CASA volunteer, picks up the telephone and hears a battered woman crying. Her partner has severely bruised her arms and neck and she is afraid that next time he may not stop with bruising her. She has three little children who have seen their dad attack their mom. They are frightened and angry and have begun to show behavior problems from the violence they have witnessed. Jean’s volunteer training comes into play as she responds to the woman on the phone with understanding and with help.
Can you see yourself in Jean’s shoes? Melissa Russell, Shelter Advocate at CASA tells you more about the life of a CASA shelter volunteer:
What do Shelter Volunteers Actually Do? By Melissa Russell Shelter Advocate
A lot! Last night we had one volunteer in our Youth Room feeding a baby, and another volunteer in our office answering our telephones and assisting residents. We have had volunteers accompany staff when picking up survivors to transport them to shelter, and we have had volunteers assist staff during the intake paperwork process. One of our most dedicated volunteers has been coming to shelter, every other week for several years, to sort and forward the mail. This simple task is a real time saver for staff, and we appreciate her continued efforts very much.
If you’ve never volunteered a at Domestic Violence shelter, it can be a very diverse, and a very rewarding volunteer experience all at once.
Every day at shelter is different. As a volunteer, you could be passing out toiletry items to residents, putting away donated canned goods, answering the door, and helping a resident with driving directions, all within a few hours time. These may seem like simple tasks, but an extra pair of hands is immensely appreciated by our staff. When the crisis line is ringing, there is someone at the door, and a resident needs a bottle of shampoo all at once, we are very grateful to have a volunteer with us during our shift!
When it comes to our shelter volunteers, there is no effort that is too small, no amount of time that is insignificant, and no kindness that goes by unnoticed. You can make a real difference to Pinellas County survivors of domestic violence with your presence at CASA’s shelter. In addition, part of CASA’s funding from the state is dependent on the number of volunteer hours CASA maintains.
If you are interested in making a difference in the lives of survivors of domestic violence and their children call: Bonnie Marshall, Volunteer Coordinator at (727) 895-4912 x 107, or e-mail
. Salondia Joyce, Thrift Shoppe Volunteer
There’s a new face at the clothing drop-off door at the CASA Collections Thrift Shoppe! Salondia Joyce, a student at Remington College in Largo, is a people person. She answers questions about her experience in the thrift shop.
Q: What’s your favorite part of your job?
Salondia: “The people!! I love the staff, the other volunteers and the people who come to the door to help survivors of domestic violence by giving CASA their clothing. It’s so interesting to talk to people, to find out what makes them tick! You meet all kinds of people here. This job is never boring. You’re busy from the moment you come in to the time you go home.
Q: What do you do for your volunteer job at CASA?
Salondia: “I take in the clothing from donors who come to the drop-off door. Then, with the staff and other volunteers, I sort through the clothes, looking for clothes of real quality to put in the sales room out front. Then I hang the clothes on hangers and put a colored tag to show when the item came in. It’s so interesting to see what people bring to CASA! We get some really beautiful things, in great condition.
Before I started at CASA I would never have stopped to shop at a thrift store. Now I never miss a chance to look at what’s for sale there. CASA’s shop has the quality of a consignment store. And the way the store is arranged is so homey! The furniture and clothes look so appealing. And, of course, it’s also important that the participants in CASA programs get to shop here for free. They can shop with dignity, like anyone else.
“You know, I recently had a chance to change my volunteer job at CASA to another department, but I didn’t want to go. I love it at the Thrift Shoppe! I’d recommend it to anyone who wants to help and have a great time in the process!!”
If you love working with donations – clothing, furniture, appliances, books, and more – and if you’d like to turn your appreciation for “real finds” into real help for survivors of domestic violence, call Bonnie Marshall at (727) 895-4912 x 107, or e-mail
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