New Life Center, the largest domestic violence shelter in Maricopa County and one of the largest in the country, recently launched the “Give the Gala” campaign which aims to raise a portion of funds that the organization’s previous charitable giving events did. Due to COVID-19, the shelter canceled its annual Secret Garden Gala, but the need to serve survivors of domestic and sexual violence remains.

“Coronavirus has caused our campus, which provides crucial support and safety to individuals affected by domestic violence and sexual abuse, to face a unique set of challenges,” says Myriah Mhoon, New Life Center CEO. “Annually, we serve more than 1,000 men, women, and children through emergency shelter and supportive community services. Closing the financial gap that the pandemic has caused will allow us to make sure survivors are safe.”

In previous years, the shelter’s special event raised upwards of $110,000. This year, the campaign will allow community members interested in giving back to donate at different levels. Contribution tiers include:

• Level 1 – $10,000 – Support a family with all their basic needs, meals, case management, safety planning, support groups, emotional support, access to resources, lay legal advocacy, and connection to long term housing.
• Level 2 – $5,000 – Feed all of the people living at the shelter three meals a day for one month.
• Level 3 – $1,000 – Fund first month’s rent for one family exiting the shelter, so that they can get settled into their new home.
• Level 4 – $500 – Provide 12 survivors living at the shelter with new pillows and bedding so they can sleep comfortably.
• Level 5 – $250 – Fund diapers for a newborn baby during their whole stay, four months, at the shelter.
• Level 6 – $125 – Provide one day of crisis line services with a trained advocate.
• Level 7 – $65 – Fund one night safe and free from worry in the emergency shelter.
• Level 8 – $25 – Provide cleaning and sanitation supplies to keep shelter residents and staff safe and healthy.

The campaign is currently less than $8,000 away from its goal.

“The outpouring of support we always receive from our community is incredibly encouraging,” Mhoon says. “Our operation would not be possible without these donations, no matter how small or large.”

To keep up to date with the organization, follow it on Facebook and Instagram. To learn more about New Life Center and what it is doing in the community, visit NewLifeCtr.org.  

About New Life Center

New Life Center serves more than 1,000 children and adults annually through an emergency shelter and outreach support program, where more than 70 percent of the shelter population is children. In 2017, the New Life Center served more children and provided more bed nights than any other single facility providing emergency shelter to domestic violence survivors in Arizona.