Woman escapes domestic violence to help make a better life for her son - Springfield News-Leader, January 2012

 

The Body Shop partners with Harmony House to help you feel good while doing good for others.

Globally, The Body Shop Foundation recently awarded Harmony House an international grant!  The Body Shop, founded by Anita Roddick (a life- long activist for social justice), is a company that embraces corporate, social, and environmental responsibility and has been since they began in 1976.  They are leaders in promoting greater corporate transparency, and have been a force for positive social and environmental change working with partners such as MTV, Greenpeace, and UNICEF, just to name a few.  Their campaigns  are centered around their five core Values:  Supporting Community Trade, Defending Human Rights, Against Animal Testing, Activating Self-Esteem, and Protecting Our Planet.

The Body Shop continues to seek out the best natural ingredients from all four corners of the planet and give back to those communities with “Community Fair Trade”.  The company insures proceeds are given back to these remote areas of the world so they can get clean water, build schools, hospitals, etc.  The Body shop is always striving to protect this beautiful planet, and always saying “no” to animal testing.  The Body Shop is actively working to stop child sex trafficking by partnering with the Somaly Mam Foundation.  The Body Shop has also been a loud voice in the awareness of the spread of one of the most destructive epidemics to hit mankind: HIV/AIDS, by promoting Safe Sex Awareness and education.  The Body Shop also strives to ‘break the silence on domestic violence’ by forming partnerships with domestic violence shelters like Harmony House.  ‘Stop Violence in the Home’ is a global campaign created by the Body Shop 10 years ago to raise awareness and inspire customers and employees to get active against domestic violence.  The campaign aims to highlight the issue, raise money to support the work of groups helping victims of violence, and ensure that customers and employees are provided with information on sources of advice and help. 

Locally, The Body Shop at Battlefield Mall and Harmony House have partnered in their efforts to raise support and awareness about the staggering rates of domestic violence in our local community by giving people the opportunity to feel good about themselves while giving to others.  The campaign kicks off this weekend (Friday, April 27th and Saturday, April 28th) with “Massage For Another”.  With any donation to Harmony House, customers can receive a back massage (demonstrated with their “happy massage rollers”) from one of their experienced staff members.  Next weekend, the campaign continues with a “Celebrate You” Mother’s Day Event featuring: complimentary foot soaks, hand massages, and mini makeovers.  Just call the shop at (417) 881-4380 or stop by to schedule your appointments for Friday, May 4th or Saturday May 5th.  These pampering sessions are ideal for Mothers, Daughters, Grandmothers, Aunts and Nieces; Everybody!  “The more, the merrier!”-Joanie, Shop Manager.  The Body Shop is incorporating “Buy Another for a Mother” throughout the complete Event (beginning Friday, April 27th).  They will be collecting items that customers purchase in their store to give to the mothers at the Harmony House domestic violence shelter.

For Additional information about The Body Shop at Battlefield Mall please call (417) 881-4380 or visit www.thebodyshop-usa.com.

For additional information about domestic violence resources and where to go for help please contact Harmony House at (417) 837-7700, call the SAFEline anytime at (417) 864-SAFE or visit www.myharmonyhouse.org.

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Need Help?

You are not alone

  • Call 911 if you are in immediate danger!
  • Call the Harmony House Safeline for 24 hour assistance 417.864.7233 or 1.800.831.6863.
  • Email Harmony House.
  • Talk to someone you trust about what is happening and make an emergency kit that includes money, medications, keys and important documents. Be sure to discuss safety with your children and how they can get help if violence occurs.

Safety Plan

Protecting Yourself

If you are at home and you are being threatened or attacked:

  • Call 911 (or your local emergency number) right away for help; get the dispatcher's name.
  • Stay away from the kitchen (the abuser can find weapons, like knives there).
  • Stay away from bathrooms, closets, or small spaces where the abuser can trap you.
  • Go to a room with a door or window escape.
  • Go to a room with a phone to call for help; lock the abuser outside if you can.
  • Think about a neighbor or friend you can run to for help.
  • If a police officer comes, tell him/her what happened; get his/her name and badge number.
  • Get medical help if you are hurt.
  • Take pictures of bruises or injuries.
  • Call a domestic violence program or shelter; ask them to help you make a safety plan.

How to Protect Yourself at Home:

  • Learn where to get help; memorize emergency phone numbers.
  • Keep a phone in a room you can lock from the inside.
  • If the abuser has moved out, change the locks on your door; put locks on the windows.
  • Plan an escape route out of your home: teach it to your children.
  • Think about where you would go if you need to escape.
  • Ask your neighbors to call the police if they see the abuser at your house; make a signal for them to call the police, for example, if the phone rings twice, a shade is pulled down or a light is on.
  • Pack a bag with important things you'd need if you had to leave quickly; put it in a safe place, or give it to a friend or relative you trust.
  • Include cash, car keys, and important information such as court papers, passport or birth certificates, medical records, medicines and immigration papers.
  • Get an unlisted and unpublished phone number.
  • Block caller ID.
  • Use an answering machine; screen the calls.

How to Protect Yourself Outside the Home:

  • Change your regular travel habits.
  • Try to get rides with different people.
  • Shop and bank in different locations.
  • Cancel any bank accounts or credit cards you shared; open new accounts at a different bank.
  • Keep your court order and emergency numbers with you at all times.

How to Make Yourself Safer at Work:

  • Keep a copy of your court order at work.
  • Give a picture of the abuser to security and friends at work.
  • Tell your supervisors what is happening.
  • Don't go to lunch alone.
  • Ask a security guard to walk you to your car.
  • Save messages the abuser might leave you at work.

 

More Information on Domestic Violence:

Helpful Numbers:

  • National Domestic Violence Hotline 800.799.7233
  • Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline 800.422.4453
  • Elderly Abuse Hotline 800.329.0210
  • Parent Stress Hotline 800.367.2543
  • Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network 800-656-4673
  • Suicide Prevention Hotline 800-784-2433

Warning Signs of an Abusive Relationship

    Does someone you love...

  • Withhold approval or affection as punishment?
  • Continually criticize you, call you names or shout at you?
  • Ignore your feelings?
  • Become very jealous or harass you about imagined affairs?
  • Manipulate you with lies and contradictions?
  • Insist you dress a certain way?
  • Humiliate you in private or in public?
  • Insult or drive away your family?
  • Punch, slap, shove, bite, kick, strangle or hit you?
  • Rape you or force you to participate in sexual activity which is unacceptable to you?
  • Threaten to kidnap the children, commit suicide, or kill you or a family member if you leave?

If you answered "yes" even once, you may be in an abusive relationship.

Survivor Stories

For years I dreamed of a better life. That has nothing to do with money, or cars, or clothes. It has to do with other things. When I look back I am amazed. I am amazed that I survived and I am amazed that I was ever that insecure. So insecure that I let myself be defined by the relationship I was in. So insecure that my identity became--VICTIM!

For years I dreamed of a better life. I was so young and so afraid that all the people telling me I was ugly and worthless were right. I would rather live in fear every day inside my own home than live in that home alone. So insecure that my identity became--STUPID!

For years I have lived a better life. I almost lost my life because of the fear of learning who I really am. Now that I know what I was missing I can breathe. I can throw my arms out and throw my head back and spin in circles! So secure that my identity is now--FREE!!!!!

Send us your survivor stories.

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