LAUREL — The Domestic Abuse Family Shelter has partnered with the Greater PineBelt Community Foundation to establish a larger shelter in the Hattiesburg area.

The Domestic Abuse Family Shelter (DAFS) has joined with the Hattiesburg-based foundation for a capital campaign to replace an older shelter in the Hub City. DAFS hopes to raise approximately $550,000 in the campaign.

Becky Sims, executive director of the Domestic Abuse Family Shelter, said the Hattiesburg shelter is more than 100 years old and requires a number of costly repairs.

“There’s always repairs to be made,” she said. “The doors and windows.... it’s just old. We’ve operated it as a shelter since 1998, and a lot of people have been through there.”

DAFS serves an 11-county area including Jones, Covington, Forrest, Greene, Jasper, Jefferson Davis, Lamar, Marion, Perry, Smith and Wayne counties. Shelters are located in Laurel and Hattiesburg.

Sims said DAFS is also unable to serve older boys and men at the Hattiesburg shelter. The shelter is also overcrowded and there is a lack of privacy.

“We ought to be able to do that,” she said. “There’s no room for a proper playground for children. We’re looking to build a shelter that can accommodate all of the people that we need to. Eventually, we want to have a second story for transitional housing which we would use for clients at both shelters.”

Sims said she is excited about partnering with the Greater PineBelt Community Foundation in this effort.

“They’re trying to do more in Jones County also,” she said. “Those wishing to donate can donate directly to the Domestic Abuse Family Shelter, to the foundation or the Website, just designate it to the capital campaign.”

Theresa Erickson, executive director of the Greater PineBelt Community Foundation, said the foundation will help DAFS in their fundraising efforts related to the new shelter.

“We partnered with the Domestic Abuse Family Shelter to assist them with their long-term success on their capital campaign,” she said. “We offer non-profit organizations several benefits such as reduced costs to any fund through shared expenses, and administrative and accounting oversight as well as an annual audit. We also help with the filing of necessary forms, and promote their cause via numerous communication vehicles.”

Erickson said there have been reductions in donations and grants to non-profit organizations like DAFS.

“We know that non-profit organizations need donations to help with their day-to-day needs, and we don’t want to interfere with that type of giving,” she said. “However, non-profit organizations need to look at the big picture —that is the sustainability of endowments and the benefit of economies of scale.”

Erickson noted that the purpose of the Greater PineBelt Community Foundation is to “build better communities through philanthropy.”

“We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that was formed as a charitable organization to receive gifts (cash, stocks, life insurance, bequests, property) from individuals or businesses who wish to support non-profit organizations or charitable causes,” Erickson said. “How we work is two-fold — we can either pool together charitable donations to meet community needs, or we work with donors, organizations or companies who have resources to build endowments to meet community needs.”

According to information provided by DAFS, it is believed that a woman is beaten in the United States every 15 seconds, and domestic abuse knows no racial, socioeconomic or religious bounds.

The Hattiesburg shelter, which is an agency of the United Way, helped more than 70 women and 76 children escape domestic violence in 2009.

Darnell Larremore is one of many domestic abuse survivors who have passed through the doors of the Domestic Abuse Family Shelter.

“My step of faith led me to the Domestic Abuse Family Shelter,” Larremore said in a press release. “I found a sanctuary where I was able to heal physically, mentally, and spiritually from a very abusive relationship. It was a place where I regained my self-esteem, gained the strength and courage to break a vicious cycle, and began rebuilding a new life with my children. The Domestic Abuse Family Shelter saved my life.”

 In addition to temporary housing, the Domestic Abuse Family Shelter offers a number of other services including:

• Individual and group counseling

• A 24-hour toll-free crisis line

• Referral information and advocacy

• Childcare for clients

• Education and aftercare case management

In a press release, Fifteenth Circuit Court District Attorney Hal Kittrell, who serves the Hattiesburg area, described DAFS as an “invaluable service” to domestic violence victims.

“This Shelter not only provides a safe haven for victims and their families, but it also helps in the fight to break the cycle of domestic violence through its education and counseling services,” Kittrell said. “Without this facility, I fear the quality of life in our local community would suffer. Victims of domestic violence need a safe, protected place to go in their time of need.”

Added Dan Kibodeaux, executive director of the United Way of Southeast Mississippi, “DAFS has a long history of serving our community and deserves our help to provide aid and comfort to people in need in the future. A new shelter is sorely needed to help enable victims of abuse to embark on a better life.”

DAFS also constantly needs a number of “wish list” items including:

• School supplies and backpacks

• Cleaning supplies — laundry detergent, bleach, dishwashing soap, dryer sheets, bathroom cleaner, etc.

• Paper products — paper plates, cups, paper towels, Kleenex, toilet paper, etc.

• Twin sheets, blankets, towels, washcloths, light bulbs (60 watt)

• Garbage cans and bags

• Diapers, baby wipes, baby items

• Women’s clothes and shoes

• Children’s clothes and shoes

• Personal hygiene items — shampoo, conditioner, soap, razors, shaving cream, toothbrush, toothpaste, hair brushes, combs, lotion, deodorant, etc.

• Toys for the children — coloring books, crayons, markers, and coloring pencils

• Household items — kitchen accessories, pots, pans, silverware, etc.

• Batteries

For more information about the Domestic Abuse Family Shelter, visit www.domesticabusefamilyshelter.org.