Volunteers help domestic violence crisis center
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On any given night, the Minot Domestic Violence Crisis Center might have 14 people staying in its shelter and must be ready to serve others in crisis.
Executive director Jill McDonald said volunteers are a big part of making that happen.
"Our core group of volunteers has kind of stuck with us through COVID," said McDonald.
Volunteers provide a helping hand with promoting the shelter on social media, helping with fundraising efforts or donation drives or with administrative duties or other work around the office.
Sometimes it is the hands-on, physical labor that is really appreciated.
Some people from the community helped fix up the Helping Hands Room where donations are collected for the shelter. Others have worked on making transitional living apartments ready for new tenants.
McDonald said people who work at the domestic violence crisis center are passionate about helping those who have been affected by domestic violence and often have a background in social work.
"We have no idea what we're doing when it comes to maintenance, so those skills are super appreciated!" said McDonald.
Before the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, some of those hands-on projects were taken on by large church groups or youth groups. Lately volunteers have to work in smaller groups because of COVID-19 precautions. But those volunteers and other help offered to the center is still very much needed and appreciated.
McDonald said the Domestic Violence Crisis Center has found creative ways to help those who are affected by an abusive relationship, even during the coronavirus pandemic. The Domestic Violence Crisis Center serves abuse victims, whether women or men. Services are available in Minot and there is also assistance for people elsewhere in the region. People who need help or those who are interested in volunteering can call 852-2258 for more information or contact the shelter through its Facebook page or through its website at courage4change.org
McDonald, who has served as the executive director for going on five years, said her own association with the Domestic Violence Crisis Center got its start when she volunteered there in the years after she graduated from high school.
"It really stayed in my heart," she said.
She went on to a career working with non-profit organizations before being offered the position of executive director at the Domestic Violence Crisis Center.
Even though her own background is not in social work, McDonald said she is honored to work with such a wonderful staff.
These are all people she would trust to help her if she ever needed assistance herself, said McDonald.
(Prairie Profile is a weekly feature profiling interesting people in our region. We welcome suggestions from our readers. Call Regional Editor Eloise Ogden at 857-1944 or call 1-800-735-3229. You also can send email suggestions to eogden@minotdailynews.com.)