FOOD BASKETS TO HELP PROVIDE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING FOR ABUSED WOMEN AND CHILDREN

Until last summer, the abused women and dependent children who sought shelter at the Safe House for Women had to get back on their feet within a few days or weeks because new women and children needed their space. A struggle to make it on their own followed. Some returned to their abusive relationship.

The Safe House opened Liberty House last summer to provide affordable transitional housing for these families. Three women and their children are living in the apartment building at this time. Eight families can stay once all the apartments are renovated.

In hopes of raising $10,000 to finish the work, the organization is selling food baskets provided by Europa's Gourmet Market for $150. The value of the food is $50. The remaining $100 is a tax-deductible donation to the Safe House for Women.

The 50 percent deduction on state taxes is available through the Domestic Violence Shelter Tax Credit Program.

Liberty House provides affordable housing to the women based on their income level. It is a minimum six-month program in which women receive educational and employment counseling and are schooled on the skills needed to live on their own. After the six months they are evaluated on a month-to-month basis.

"We want them to go out stronger women than when they came to us," says Cheryl Robb-Welch, executive director of the Safe House for Women.

The women also attend weekly counseling sessions to work on the issues that brought them to Liberty House.

"Dependency has been a huge factor," says Joy Bell, the Safe House's licensed professional counselor. "It's like being caught in a web ... You have to believe in your ability to become self-sufficient and tend to your basic needs."

Transitional housing is key because the changes the women have to make to regain control of their lives don't occur overnight.

"Many of them came from backgrounds where their primary role model also was a victim of abuse," Bell says. "From a very young age sometimes they have been programmed to perceive themselves as a passive recipient of what the person or society dishes out.

"It's a mindset that takes more than just to month to make some inroads."

The Safe House bought the apartment building with a grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank. Many companies and churches have donated goods and services toward the renovation, and volunteers have helped with the clean-up and repairs.

The number of women and children staying at the Safe House varies. Two or three weeks ago it was at capacity of 16 people. The number has gradually decreased to half capacity now. "Before the holidays, a lot of times women will put up with a lot of stuff to keep their families together," Robb-Welch says.

The food baskets come in a number of styles: French, Mollie's (named for the restaurant), California and Italian. The baskets will brim with such delicacies as imported cheeses and smoked salmon. They will be delivered to the buyer's door between Jan. 17 and 20.

Anyone who wants a food basket menu or wants to donate can call the Safe House at 335-7745. Monday is the deadline for ordering a food basket. Donations also can be sent to the Safe House for Women, P.O. Box 1167, Cape Girardeau, Mo. 63702-1167.