Domestic Abuse Task Force (DATF)
What is Domestic Violence?
Domestic Violence can be defined as an escalating pattern of coercive control (verbal, emotional, sexual, economic, physical, and spiritual abuse) that one person in a relationship uses over another. It is an epidemic that crosses all demographic, social, and educational boundaries—and Westchester is no exception. Women are more likely than men to experience this type of abuse. Many families who have the courage to leave their abusers end up in shelters with only the clothes on their back.
What We Do
We provide assistance to families leaving the shelter as they transition into permanent houseing. We collect and deliver kitchen supplies, appliances, bedding, cleaning supplies, and gift cards. Our goal is to let them know that there are people in the world who care about them and want to help them rebuild their lives.
We also provide ongoing support to Hope's Door throughout the year and bring education about the issue of domestic abuse to the WCT community.
Ways To Help
Donate gift cards from American Express, Visa, Mastercard, ShopRite, Stop & Shop, Acme, Target, and Kohl's. Many families do not qualify for food assistance once they leave the shelter. These gift cards provide families immediate hunger relief as they transition. Gift cards can be left in the Social Action mailbox in the main office labeled: For DATF.
We also collect gift cards during our annual Sukkot BBQ.
Make monetary donations to our DATF Fund (insert link to donation section of website).
This fund primarily supports our annual apple picking trip for shelter residents. It is a beautiful tradition that provides families the ability to experience fall fun in a safe and supportive environment at no cost to them. We provide shelter residents with the tickets, apple bags, food, and the ability for the children to select pumpkins to take home.
Donate a book through the temple's annual book drive. Shelter residents often need educational workbooks and Spanish language books.
Make a blanket through the Knitting and Crocheting group. We provide each family with a handmade blanket when they move into their new residence.
Donate cleaning supplies during a Kesher Shabbat event. Families moving into their new homes are always in need of cleaning supplies such as mops, buckets, cleaners, sponges, disinfecting wipes, paper towels, toilet paper, rubber gloves, etc.
Join our committee - You will be added to our email blasts when we do collections for the families transitioning out of the shelter. Additionally, we welcome any new ideas and support.
Leaders: Judy Stiefel, Jennifer Trevor-Hochman and Bill Woolis, domesticabuse@wct.org