It Takes A Village: A New Leaf Autumn House Spotlight
As Domestic Violence Awareness Month ushers in October, so does the opportunity to showcase the incredible work of one of United Food Bank’s partner agencies, A New Leaf – Autumn House. Autumn House is one of several branches of A New Leaf, serving as a domestic violence shelter for individuals and families while also being pet-friendly!
In sharing the wrap-around services that Autumn House provides, the staff express their gratitude to those who contribute to United Food Bank’s efforts in combating food insecurity. “Thank you so much. We know people don’t get to see first hand where the food is going, but a lot of these families sometimes don’t even have food stamps, or they work all day and can barely make enough for themselves and their families. Having these donations is such a blessing to them. Thank you so much for making a difference here at Autumn House.”
A great deal of the support that Autumn House can offer also comes from the kindness and generosity of their outstanding volunteers. Their efforts in providing dinner donations once a week give tenants a moment of peace as they enjoy home cooked meals. From hand painted walls in the serenity and pet gardens to a boutique-like center where survivors can choose a new supply of clothes, the time, revitalization work, and donations of the community help make a difficult period and transition less intimidating and a little bit easier.
Donation to Autumn House for their playground
“There is a stigma about what a domestic violence shelter can be like, but working here you see it’s not like that at all, “ a staff member remarks as they lead the tour around the building’s healing room, where survivors have a secluded space to meditate, study, workout, or anything else that they need. While we don’t share stories from our neighbors at this agency for their privacy and safety, there is much to share about how the community plays a great role in the support network of the survivors here. The United Food Bank is proud to take part in this network of support, offering grants to support the shelter in upgrading their kitchen facilities to improve food storage. As a partner agency, Autumn House also distributes food boxes to survivors to support them through the week.
Autumn House is the first domestic violence shelter in the East Valley, providing a secure place for survivors to receive 24/7 care, resources, and services. Upon arrival, safety is the top priority. “Dedicated staff members are immediately assigned to support survivors. They establish a normal schedule, help them find employment through a dedicated workforce center, secure transportation, and start counseling services to move past the trauma of abuse.” The staff works hard to protect survivors and help them move into long term housing. They also offer court advocacy, services, and program connections for up to six months after a survivor leaves the program.
Donation to Autumn House for their playground
Since 1971, A New Leaf has focused on providing seven pillars of service: Sexual & Domestic Violence Services, Housing & Shelter, Health & Wellness, Financial Empowerment, Educational Services, Family Support, and Foster Care. This well-rounded commitment aims to leave no one in the community behind, emulating their mission of helping families and changing lives.
If you would like more information about the services that Autumn House or other branches of A New Leaf can provide, explore https://www.turnanewleaf.org/services/domestic-violence-services/. For help, their hotline is (480) 890-3039 or 1-844-SAFEDVS. To learn more about United Food Bank and how we support our partner agencies, check out https://www.unitedfoodbank.org/.
Written by KC Raguay
