House of Ruth Annual Holiday Store & Wish List
The annual House of Ruth Holiday Store provides new toys and gifts to battered women and their children at no cost. Mothers are able to shop for their children and children are able to pick the perfect holiday surprise for their mother. Last year 458 people had a joyous holiday thanks to your generous donations of toys, food, gifts and dollars. For many families rebuilding violence free lives, the House of Ruth Holiday Store may be their only source of gifts and food.
Together we can provide a memorable holiday for battered women and their children. Your donations should be new, toys must be non-violent, and all gifts remain unwrapped. Cash and Gift Card donations are always welcome. For gift ideas please refer to the back of this page. Our clients range in age from newborn to seniors.
Donations can be delivered to: 599 N. MAIN STREET, POMONA, CA.
Attn.: Melissa Pitts • (909) 623-4364 ext. 8021
Drop off times: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm • Drop off dates: Monday, December 1st through Thursday, December 22nd
Please call Melissa if you need to make special arrangements to drop your items off at a different time.
Mission: (1) To advocate for and assist women and children victimized by domestic violence and children exposed to violence in transforming their lives by providing culturally competent shelter, programs, opportunities, and education; and (2) to contribute to social change through intervention, education, prevention programs and community awareness.
With the holidays upon us, stress is more common and can be much more difficult to handle. Why? With images of the “perfect” holiday everywhere, parents and children can begin to develop unrealistic expectations that the holidays are a “perfect” family time. In a house where abuse occurs, the holidays can trigger depression and anxiety for victims of domestic violence and their children. When families flee the home to get safe from an abuser, the children are confused and scared, especially if they have to go into a shelter. One child, staying in House of Ruth’s emergency shelter last December, approached their Executive Director and said, “Is Santa going to be able to find us here?”
House of Ruth works hard to maintain the spirit of the holidays for the families receiving services from them. They host a Holiday Store that provides families with hope and support for the holidays. House of Ruth creates two special “stores” – a mother’s store and a children’s store – where families in shelter, or families who utilize House of Ruth’s domestic violence services, can do some holiday shopping, completely free-of-charge. The “stores” are filled with new toys and gifts generously donated by individuals, families, and businesses.
Being able to provide gifts for one another helps battered women and their children create a special family holiday, even during crisis. Last year, 472 people enjoyed the spirit of giving thanks to your donations of toys, food and gifts. The House of Ruth Holiday Store provides hope and joy – but they can only do so with your generous contributions. All donations need to be new, unused and unwrapped; toys must be non-violent. Cash and Gift Cards are always welcome. Their clients range in age from newborn to seniors.
At House of Ruth, they offer support during the holidays, when emotions, fears, and depression can affect abused women and their children. They create a warm and safe environment to enjoy some of the traditional holiday activities. And most importantly they make sure that Santa can find all of the children that anxiously await his arrival!
Domestic Violence Statistics
- Domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women ages 15-44.
- 45% of battered women live in households with children under the age of 12.
- Nearly 1 in 3 women experience at least one physical assault by a partner during adulthood.
- Each year, over 300 women and children stay in the House of Ruth’s Emergency Shelter.
- House of Ruth provides legal services to approximately 500 women annually.
- More than 3500 women call the House of Ruth’s 24-hour hotline every year.
How You Can Help
Donate
House of Ruth serves hundreds of families every year, and to sustain their organization, it requires support from many people. When you donate to the House of Ruth, every dollar donated ensures that they are able to provide consistent, life-saving services to families in crisis.
Volunteer
House of Ruth volunteers perform a wide variety of services to support their clients, such as answering the 24-house hotline, assisting clients in their Temporary Restraining Order Clinic, helping in the Shelter’s children’s programs, providing childcare and more. All volunteers are required to complete a forty-hour domestic violence training.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!
P.O. Box 459, Claremont, CA 91711 • (909) 623-4364
24-Hour Crisis Hotline: (877) 988-5559