by Cori Hilsgen
news@thenewsleaders.com
Anna Marie’s Alliance, located in St. Cloud, was one of 150 domestic-violence organizations across the nation to recently receive a Mary Kay Foundation grant.
The non-profit organization received $20,000 of a combined $3 million that was given to shelters during October for service and programming support. (October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.)
Anna Marie’s Alliance Executive Director Charles Hempeck said in a news release that they appreciate the foundation’s commitment to domestic-violence awareness and prevention.
Hempeck has been with the organization since January 2014. He has a master’s degree in women’s studies from Minnesota State University, Mankato, with an emphasis on awareness of violence against women, and has been active in the nonprofit sector for more than 15 years.
The grant funds help cover the cost of operating Anna Marie’s Shelter. Last year, the shelter housed 287 women and 205 children. During the 2015-16 year, 2,191 adult and child victims also received non-residential services.
“Anna Marie’s Alliance focuses on crisis intervention, prevention and systems change,” said Sandy Nadeau, director of development and communications. “Support from the Mary Kay Foundation allows us to continue offering needed services and support to victims of domestic violence and (to) create a community where violence is not tolerated.”
Anna Marie’s Alliance, which is also known as the Central Minnesota Task Force on Battered Women, has the only domestic-violence shelter in a six-county region in Central Minnesota.
The facility was opened in 2000, which is when the organization’s name changed from Woman House to Anna Marie’s Alliance. The current facility is referred to as Anna Marie’s Shelter.
The agency provides services to victims of domestic abuse and aims to end tolerance for violence.
Round-the-clock emergency housing, a 24-hour crisis hotline, after-care services for victims of domestic violence and advocacy are offered at the 36-bed facility.
Advocates at Anna Marie’s provide information and referrals, legal support and other services to victims of abuse in person and through the 24-hour hotline.
According to Mackenzie Fitting, development and communications associate, Anna Marie’s Alliance has sheltered nearly 15,000 battered women and children since 1979.
The shelter houses only women and children victims. However, it does provide non-residential services and support to male victims as well.
Fitting said a City of St. Cloud ordinance states victims can stay at the shelter for no more than 45 days, unless they have an order for protection.
The shelter is part of a program called “Day One” and is usually at 90-percent capacity. If the shelter is full, staff connect with other domestic-violence shelters in Minnesota to see if they have room available.
Anna Marie’s Alliance, St. Cloud, was one of 150 domestic-violence organizations across the nation to receive a Mary Kay Foundation grant of $20,000. Charles Hempeck, the executive director of Anna Marie’s Alliance, said they appreciate the foundation’s commitment to domestic-violence awareness and prevention.
