On one hand, Sunday night’s gathering on behalf of New Beginnings APFV at Elkhorn’s Holi Cannoli was an evening of entertainment – a five-course meal mixed with good company and cocktails.
On the other hand, as New Beginnings Executive Director Suzi Schoenhoft said, the people in attendance help keep the organization going.
“Your support is probably more important now than it ever has been,” said Schoenheft at the end of dinner at the Cocktails and Cuisine with a Cause.
“Without you guys, we couldn’t do what we do,” she added.
The fundraiser for New Beginnings – Walworth, and now Jefferson, counties’ lone domestic abuse programming and services center – sold out the Wednesday before the event, and the small Italian restaurant on Highway 12 was packed with people for the event.
Schoenhoft was one of several speakers at the event. She outlined the work being done right now by New Beginnings, which includes the building of transitional housing and a shelter as well.
“We have more staff than we ever had, we’re having more programming than we’ve ever had,” Schoenhoft said before introducing her staff. “Unfortunately, we’re serving more victims.”
One of those survivors, a woman who remained anonymous, spoke at the event. She told the story of how she had made “wrong choices” and ended up in dangerous situations.
Fortunately for her, she began setting herself goals and working on becoming sober. She also worked with New Beginnings, which helped her get her life back on track and get a 10-year restraining order – an order that requires significant proof and a court hearing with the petitioner and alleged abuser.
“I’m thriving,” said the woman, who added she had just had a baby and is in a new home.
Several of the board members also spoke at the event, including Kim Sikes, who came up to speak right after the survivor spoke and said that the “bravery and courage” the woman showed “is a gift.”
“The strength she showed was incredible,” Sikes said, adding that her story was just one of many happening in Walworth County that covered everything from domestic violence to human trafficking to harassment to stalking.
She said she guessed a small portion of those in attendance thought they didn’t know anyone who had suffered from abuse, but that those people probably did.
“That’s the sad reality,” Sikes said, who advocated for people not only to donate to the cause monetarily, but also to become involved as volunteers if possible
Schoenhoft added later that New Beginnings APFV is growing, recently taking over services in Jefferson County as well.
She said her staff at New Beginnings and community partners have allowed them to continue expanding the services and communities they service.
“We’ve been able to stay in our lane because we work with so many experts,” she explained. She also thanked her board of directors.
“They are thoughtful and thank God, they are reasonable,” Schoenhoft said.
