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FROM STAFF REPORTS

MARBLE FALLS — The Highland Lakes Family Crisis Center recently received a $20,000 grant from the Mary Kay Foundation to help bring attention to Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

The grant is one of 150 the foundation handed out across the United States for a total of $3 million.

As for the local grant, Highland Lakes Family Crisis Center officials say it’s a big help in their efforts to assist domestic violence survivors.

“We are incredibly grateful for the support from the Mary Kay Foundation and its commitment to break the cycle of domestic violence,” said Alma Lahmon, the center’s executive director. “This grant is vital for this year’s annual operating budget to ensure we can continue to meet the needs of the survivors throughout our four-county service region. Our facility saves lives every day through our 24-hour access for safety and security for survivors seeking refuge and emergency assistance.”

Officials said the crisis center will use the grant to support its 24-hour hotline service, 24-hour emergency response program and 37-bed emergency shelter.

The crisis center and shelter serves Burnet, Blanco, Llano and Lampasas counties. Last year, more than 360 women and children sought refuge in the center’s emergency shelter, Lea’s House, and more than 700 new survivors were served through the center’s nonresidential program.

All services at the center are free and confidential. The center is dedicated to providing assistance and support for survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking and sexual assault in the four-county area.

Since 2000, the Mary Kay Foundation has donated $35.6 million to domestic violence organizations through its annual shelter grant program.

“Mary Kay has a long-standing commitment to prevent and end domestic violence,” said Anne Crews, board member for the Mary Kay Foundation and vice president of public affairs for Mary Kay Inc. “While progress has been made in the United States in meeting the needs of thousands of domestic violence survivors who seek help each and every day, there remains a significant gap between funding and resources. We know from our work with shelter directors across the nation that the foundation’s annual grants are a lifeline for many shelters and continue to impact an epidemic that touches one in every four women.”

Another way to support the Highland Lakes Family Crisis Center is by participating in the Oct. 31 golf tournament at Delaware Springs Municipal Golf Course, 600 Delaware Springs Blvd. in Burnet. It has a 12:30 p.m. shotgun start. For more information on the tournament, call (830) 693-3656 and ask for the golf coordinator.

Proceeds from the Good Neighbor Thrift Store, located at the corner of RR 1431 and Avenue E in Marble Falls, also support the crisis center. The store is open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday.

Call (830) 798-1512 for more information on the thrift store.

Go to hlfcc.org for more information on the Highland Lakes Family Crisis Center.

editor@thepicayune.com