Winnie V. Williams

Christmas Party for Abused Women and their Children

2007-12-22T18:18:00.000-05:00

Among the many Christmas parties I have hosted in my home over the years I hosted the most meaningful party ever a few nights ago when women who have experienced domestic violence and their children came to celebrate the Holiday season. These women and their children reside at Safe Harbor in SC which is a shelter for abused women. Most of them left their home of discord and violence with just the clothes they wore and nothing much else. Here at Christmastime they live in a strange environment, away from home and all the familiar comforts they have known, yet they would like to celebrate as we all do with making merry. Being safe from abuse is happiness in itself.

In spite of difficult circumstance they demonstrated a cheerful attitude as they ate hot dogs and all the trimmings, enjoyed hot chocolate and cookies. The greatest joy, however, was Santa's visit with a toy and candy for each child and stockings fill with personal items for the moms.

I shared in the joy of reading a Christmas story to the children and then we all sang Christmas songs. I've never observed such excitement and happiness as these children greeted Santa with hugs and adoration. Hopefully, it helped to have some pleasurable time when life has dealt such a heavy blow to these families.
Winnie

Domestic Violence in SC

2007-12-20T17:45:00.000-05:00

A litle four year old girl will face Christmas this year without a mother or father. She is a victim of domestic violence. When her father became enraged with his wife he thrust the steel blade of a knife into her body driving her to her knees and then a final lunge onto the floor. A wife and mother lay dead in a pool of blood. The father is in prison and a small girl is left without either parent.

This happened less than 20 miles from my home in SC. This mother is one of the approximately 35-40 women in SC that are killed each year. As many as 36,000 women in our state are beaten each year according to the Attorney General of SC. We are the sixth leading state for the number of abused women in the United States.

As we enter the Christmas season I think of these mothers of domestic violence and the many children that live in fear of a violent father. Will it be a Merry Christmas for them?

Response to Price & Privilege of Being a Woman

2007-04-16T14:28:00.000-04:00

Just wanted to let you know that I have findished reading The Price & Privilege of Being a Woman. It was a very informative, compleling and moving read. If I hadn't known before I read the book of your "your burning" desire to help these oppressed women, I would know it now. I admire your love for these women and a deep desire to help them rise above their present situation.
Nan

Your Writings

2007-04-11T14:55:00.000-04:00

Your writings capture what the world needs to know, and individually we need to act. You have certainly made a gigantic contribution with this information in print.
Sarah