Valentine’s Day can be difficult for families living in domestic violence shelter programs. It is a holiday that centers around love and caring, and for families who have experienced abuse, it is a particularly sad and lonely time. Family life and relationships have not turned out the way that they had hoped, and being away from family and friends makes the reality of their situation even more stressful and upsetting.

To help bring some cheer to these families, The Sudbury-Wayland-Lincoln Domestic Violence Roundtable conducts an annual Valentine Collection for families served by REACH Beyond Domestic Violence, The Second Step, and Voices Against Violence. Each family member is given a gift bag filled with items to lift their spirits and to let them know that each gift and good wish say, “We support your decision to end violence in your life.” Families are moved by the fact that complete strangers whom they may never meet are so caring.

The Roundtable Outreach Committee invites individuals, faith communities, and community organizations to participate in this Valentine Collection. A list of recommended donations can be found on the Roundtable website.

Donations may be dropped off in the lobby of the Wayland Public Safety Building at 38 Cochituate Road in Wayland (located in Wayland Center at the intersections of Routes 20 and 27) until Monday, February 9th. Volunteers are welcome to join the Roundtable members as they assemble the gift bags on Tuesday, February 10, 2015 at 3 PM in the Community Meeting Room of the Wayland Public Safety Building.

For further information, please email the Roundtable at infodvrt@gmail.com.
For more information, email infodvrt@gmail.com.