Author: Lauren Nackel, HR Manager

7 Ways You Can Support Survivors In Your Community During COVID-19

We are living in unprecedented times, surrounded by uncertainty. Last week a wise friend of mine said, “every day is a week, every week is a month, and every month is a year.” I’ve never heard words that felt more true. As many of us have shifted to hunkering down in our homes, we at REACH are hearing about increasing needs from survivors of domestic violence….

From Coffee to Action: Highlighting the Incredible Work of a Local Leader

A few months ago, I was asked to come speak at a local church, St. Anne’s of the Field, who have long been a supporter of REACH. I asked, as I always do, to chat with someone prior to coming to learn more about the community and what folks would be hoping to learn from our conversation. I was connected with their assistant priest, Rev. Greg…

A Thank You Letter to Our Volunteers

Dear REACH Volunteers, Last year, you volunteered for 6,285 hours. You gave 6,285 hours of your time to support people you had never met before. You spent your days fixing toilets, moving furniture, repainting walls. You spent your evenings answering the hotline, providing a place for survivors to share their story, to hear they are not alone. You did all of this for someone you do not know. …

Recognizing ALL Survivor Voices During Sexual Assault Awareness Month

April marks Sexual Assault Awareness Month.  This year, it feels especially relevant given the national dialogue that our society is engaging in surrounding the #MeToo movement.  April is always a meaningful time for me, as it marks what I think of as my entry into this work.  Prior to college, I really had never thought about domestic or sexual violence, until a friend invited me to attend…

Thoughts on the Holiday Gift Program

As many of you know, this week was REACH’s Holiday Gift Program. Our generous donors gave gifts to 260 families (800 people) who have experienced domestic violence and work with REACH. Our Community Engagement Specialist Lauren Montanaro wrote this reflection on yesterday’s party, where most of the gifts were distributed.  Each year, REACH hosts a Holiday Gift Program for survivors of domestic violence. Each year, I…

4 Ways to Create Space for Intersecting Identities

Last week, I went to an event hosted by Safe Havens and The Network/La Red which focused on intersectional identities.  Specifically, this event focused on the intersection of faith, sexual orientation, and domestic violence.  For the week leading up to this event, I could feel myself becoming more and more excited to engage in dialogue with other folks who shared in my passion for these three…

Being There

I spend a lot of time talking with survivors of domestic violence.  Lately, I’ve been co-facilitating a support group at our shelter, where we utilize an arts based curriculum and psychoeducational framework.  In these conversations, we’ve had an opportunity to learn from one another about a variety of topics, including self-care, boundaries, trauma, domestic violence, and red flags. In these conversations, I’ve been astounded by so…