June 4, 2009: A Night in White
In our seventh year hosting this event, guests were treated to wine and beer
Maria
Like many women who suffer from domestic violence, 43-year-old Maria was referred to Travelers Aid through the Family Justice Center and the District Attorney’s office. This had been Maria’s second relationship in which domestic violence had played a role—her husband had beaten her six years ago. This mother of four needed a safe place to stay as well as a way to get back and forth to El Centro in order to testify against her estranged boyfriend who had been charged with not only assaulting her, but a friend of Maria’s as well. This extremely violent and dangerous person had additionally threatened police officers involved in the case—a fact that lengthened his sentence from what would likely have been one year to seven years in prison. Travelers Aid was able to arrange for round trip bus tickets to El Centro so Maria could testify, and placement in St. Vincent de Paul Village so that this mom and her children can be safe while she gets her life back together.