Working with Safe Harbor to give families new hope

Domestic violence is an epidemic infecting our society without discrimination. It spreads from generation to generation, cutting across age, socioeconomic status, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation and nationality. In the U.S., more than 10 million people are victims of domestic violence annually.*

For more than 35 years, Safe Harbor of Northeast Kentucky has helped families plagued by this disease, providing critical services such as emergency shelter, transitional housing, job training and legal advocacy.

“For years, King’s Daughters has provided emergency and other healthcare to women and children at Safe Harbor,” said Susan Fried, Safe Harbor board chair. The medical center also has been a major sponsor of the organization’s annual Lobster Fest fundraiser since its inception eight years ago.

Safe Harbor also benefits from the food drive conducted at King’s Daughters each spring. “We receive much of the non-perishable food donated to River Cities Harvest. It’s a huge help,” Fried said noting there are many mouths to feed with more than 160 residents being served by Safe Harbor at any given time.

Last year, team members from King’s Daughters Information Systems and Technology department helped set up of a computer lab at Safe Harbor by installing computers donated by Ashland Community and Technical College. “It’s opened doors for our residents to access online education and search for jobs,” said Fried.

The desire to help people is at the heart of healthcare. Fried’s own ties to the medical community led her to involvement with Safe Harbor — she and her husband, cardiothoracic surgeon Robert Fried, M.D., learned about the organization through the Boyd County Medical Association when they moved here in 2003. “The association was considering causes to support. We toured Safe Harbor and just fell in love with the concept of giving these women and children a chance,” she said.

Domestic violence stunts the long-term health of a community as it takes its toll on generations of families. “Children in violent homes often grow up to be abusers or continued abuse victims,” Fried said. “By supporting Safe Harbor, King’s Daughters is helping us end this vicious cycle and give families hope.”

Safe Harbor accepts financial gifts as well as donations of hygiene items, undergarments and clothing. To learn more about the organization and how you can help, go online to safeharborky.org or call (606) 329-9304 or toll free: 1-800-926-2150.

*Source: National Coalition Against Domestic Violence

Don’t forget! Safe Harbor’s annual Lobsterfest fundraiser is from 6 p.m. to midnight Saturday, Aug. 13 at Bellefonte Country Club. For information, call (606) 329-9304.

For more stories like this one, click here to read our Report to the Community 2016.