Antonio Novello, the former Surgeon General, has estimated that domestic violence kills 58,000 people every five years, the same number lost in the Vietnam War. (Gardner, 1992)

What the women say.

• Thank you so much for helping me. It has made a difference in my situation. I appreciate the staff. They are well trained and compassionate and I will miss them. Thank you for accepting my animals. They are extremely important to me and I am thankful you understood the need for them to be here and do the services I needed.

• I did appreciate having the shelter school for my son. He loved it and really hated leaving it. In fact, he preferred going to the shelter school versus going back to his other school.

• I just want to thank you for what you have done for me and my children. God bless you. You made good change for me and my family. I will miss you guys.

• I really appreciate all of the help I got from everyone and I will miss all of you very much.

• Perhaps you could have more information about education so one could improve ones self, especially where work is concerned. Thank you so very much for the services offered here and most of all, I appreciated the emotional support I got here. You are truly a haven in a storm.

• Did not like house meetings.

• I am impressed with Women's Shelter and I am very thankful that you were here. The most valuable service I received was the support and the advocates willingness to get involved and help me with phone calls, times to talk, allowing me to make my own decisions and to support the decisions after I made them. I hope you continue to be successful in this program and in your pursuit of freeing women and children from the bondage of abuse and violence.