On April 5, forty-nine members of the St Andrews Auxiliary enjoyed a spring brunch at the invitation of St. Andrews Village in appreciation of Auxiliary volunteer services and monetary contributions to the Village and its programs.

The event included a presentation by Mary Hanley of New Hope for Women who addressed the topic of domestic violence and abuse. After sharing some statistics, Hanley talked about cues for recognition of abuse and possible approaches for offering assistance to a victim. She offered insight into the mindset of the victim and why it is not easy to "just leave." Hanley also outlined available services and emphasized the importance of privacy and New Hope's dedication to the protection of client identity. Elder abuse was touched on briefly and Hanley stressed that victims suffering such abuse can also be referred to New Hope for help.

At the close of the event, the table centerpieces provided by the Auxiliary were raffled off and the proceeds were donated to New Hope for Women.

Hanley is available to address your group, large or small, and can tailor her presentation to meet specific concerns. To schedule a talk or small group exercise for your organization call New Hope for Women at 800-522-3304 or email Hanley directly at mhanley@newhopeforwomen.org.

Monetary donations provide meaningful support for the life affirming work of this all important 501(c)(3) agency. Tax deductible contributions can be sent to New Hope for Women, P.O. Box A, Rockland, ME 04841-0733.