Event gives Safe House for Women a big platform

The fringes, the hairspray ... the platform shoes.

If fashion in the 1970s went there, the Cape Girardeau area Safe House for Women's sixth annual VintageNOW fashion show went there, too, as part of its big yearly fundraiser at the Osage Centre in Cape Girardeau.

Jessica Hill, Safe House for Women's executive director, said this year's event was their biggest fundraiser.

"It's by far and away the largest fundraiser of the year for the Safe House," she said. "Last year, we were able to raise $42,000 ... and it keeps getting bigger every year."

Although they didn't have a complete tally of the funds raised Saturday evening, Hill said this year more than 1,000 people paid for admission alone. It was the second year the event has been held at the Osage Centre, a fact Hill takes pride in.

Kaitlyn Herbst makes her way down the runway during the VintageNOW fashion show at the Osage Centre on Saturday. (Glenn Landberg)

"We've outgrown all the other venues that we've had in the past," she explained.

But admission wasn't the only means of fundraising. Vendors, a silent auction and a male beauty pageant also helped raise money.

Plenty of recognizable mugs were in the running for the male beauty pageant, too. Lyle Randolph, vice president of Isle Casino Cape Girardeau; Brian Gerau, director of the Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce; and even state Sen. Wayne Wallingford all were collecting votes by-the-dollar.

"It's just a really great cause," Gerau said. "We all know someone, whether they're a mother, sister, girlfriend or friend, whose lives have been affected by [an abusive relationship]."

He said he'd raised a couple hundred dollars in votes but didn't feel like he was a contender.

Dawn Hoffman makes her way down the runway during the VintageNOW fashion show at the Osage Centre on Saturday. (Glenn Landberg)

"Some of these guys have raised thousands," he said. "I'm not even in the ballpark. Kudos to them, but I don't know how anyone could not support a cause like this."

All that money, Hill said, goes straight to helping area women who suffered in abusive relationships.

"Safe House provides all of our services at no charge to our clients," she said. "Events like this are really important to us."

Safe House for Women also offers programs in area schools to teach children how to recognize unhealthy relationship patterns.

"A lot of people instinctively know what a bad relationship is," said Safe House worker Aaron Picar. "But sometimes they need that affirmation, and we go in and affirm that everyone deserves respect and that sort of thing."

Sharon Carlquist, whose mother survived years of an abusive relationship, served as keynote speaker during the event.

"My mother is now free. She has the chance to live the life she should have been able to live years ago," she said, adding the counseling and support her mother found in the Safe House provided her with the strength to speak her opinion and make her own choices.

"I'm speaking as a tribute to my mother," she said.

But the most fun part of the night was, of course, the fashion show, where 40 models strutted two retro outfits each, and each with a modern twist.

"The whole year, they've been putting together the outfits for tonight's show," Hill said.

tgraef@semissourian.com

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