Helena Friendship Center received grant support

HELENA — The Helena Friendship Center is one of seven local and state domestic violence prevention organizations selected to receive funding from a $70,000 grant from the Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund.

Friendship Center Executive Director Gina Boesdorfer said the donation will help the center reach more people with its education and outreach program.

“We have an education program at the friendship center, so we have an education coordinator who goes out into the community and provides awareness, training and presentations on domestic violence, sexual assault and awareness to schools, community groups and all kinds of events. Boesdorfer explained: “Money like this, “It really helps us support the program to ensure people are informed not only about our services, but also about the factors that go into these crimes.”

The Friendship Center’s mission is to provide a safe haven for those affected by domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking and to empower our community to thrive in relationships free from violence. Lewis and Clark was founded in 1971 as a community resource to address and prevent domestic violence, sexual assault and harassment in Broadwater and Jefferson counties through advocacy, education and outreach.

Earlier this year, the center said it had helped 722 people and had nearly 1,800 calls to its crisis line in 2023. It also provided the equivalent of nearly 8,500 nights of shelter to 150 adults and children last year.

“I think one of the main focuses of the training that will be supported by this grant is to look at the safety factors and the different legality risk factors that exist in domestic violence relationships. And how gun violence is linked to domestic violence homicides. And by looking at all the components involved in these relationships in ways that we can ultimately help increase safety in an unpredictable situation and then really try to see the connections to some of these extreme abusers and situations,” Boesdorfer added.

According to Everytown, “To be awarded a grant, grantee organizations must have a proven track record of supporting victims of domestic or intimate partner violence in their communities, with a focus on black, indigenous and multi-ethnic populations, and must have used funding from Everytown operationally.” supporting costs, capacity building training opportunities, salaries of staff and contractors, and more.”

In the five years since the domestic violence grant program began, it has provided more than $500,000 in funding to local and state domestic violence organizations in 31 states and the District of Columbia.

The Friendship Center received $10,000 from the grant toward community initiatives.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.