Domestic violence shelter receives grant

Turning Pointe Survivor Advocacy Center in Shelton will use a $20,000 grant to remodel its kitchen to better serve women and children at its domestic violence shelter.

The nonprofit, helping survivors of domestic violence since 2000, states it is one of more than 1,100 domestic violence shelters that applied for grants from the Mary Kay Ash Foundation this year. The foundation, which states it has donated more than $92 million to organizations since 1996, raises and distributes money for cancer research to find a cure for female-related cancers and to end domestic violence against women.

The $20,000 grant is unrestricted, meaning Turning Pointe can choose what to spend it on.

"We're just really thankful for your support," Gina Finley, the nonprofit's executive director, told representatives from the Mary Kay Ash Foundation during a recent check presentation.

Finley said the nonprofit hopes the remodeling begins in April. During construction, the kitchen will shut down for six weeks. Turning Pointe is asking individuals, businesses and groups to donate meals to shelter residents during that time. To arrange to donate a meal, contact Finley at 206-478-2215 or at [email protected].

The kitchen is "rough" and "scratched up," and Turning Pointe wants it to be "durable and lovely," Finley said.

An Olympia architect who donated his services designed the kitchen renovation to include individual spaces for people who desire to eat alone, a place for children to gather, and better lighting, Finley said.

"It's going to be beautiful," she said.

Turning Pointe is now seeking a grant to buy a backup generator, Finley said.

In September, children who are victims or witnesses to domestic violence got more space to play, learn social-emotional skills, and connect with their peers at the shelter when it completed a 400-square-foot addition. The two new offices will be the focal point for youth advocacy and prevention.

The building addition is phase two of a proposed three-phase plan to help serve youths, Finley said. At one point before the COVID pandemic, a record 27 children were staying at the shelter, she said.

Finley said the process began three years ago when she told local architect and consultant Len Williams she was having a difficult time creating a youth program with no space. Williams lent his services free of charge developing phase one, the conversion of an existing office space into a designated youth activities room, with the help of Green Diamond Resources, in 2019-2020.

The proposed third phase is the creation of a new building for child care for clients.

Turning Pointe's services include legal advocacy, youth advocacy, medical advocacy, parenting classes, rental assistance, safety planning, support groups, emergency shelter, on-call advocacy, a 24-hour crisis line and prevention education. Services are offered in Spanish and English, and clients have access to all languages through the Language Line.