A new group bearing a familiar name is working to address the ongoing problem of domestic abuse in Jefferson County and surrounding areas.
The Mary Daniels Foundation is named for Mary Daniels, a Jefferson County woman who was murdered by her estranged husband as she left work on Aug. 3, 2010.
A few months later, Daniels’ family and friends began raising money to build Mary’s House of Hope, which provides housing to women who are transitioning from domestic violence shelters into the everyday world.
“We partnered with Comtrea (an agency that provides health care services around Jefferson County) to build Mary’s House of Hope,” said Alexis Lowery of Festus, Daniels’ daughter, who is the president of the board governing the Mary Daniels Foundation.
With the first of three planned buildings for Mary’s House of Hope up and running, Lowery said, she and other family members and friends decided to shift their focus.
“I’ve been working in domestic violence shelters for a couple of years, and I started to identify gaps in services that are needed,” she said. “There are only so many resources out there. How do we get a victim to a counselor? What if the shelters are full? Is there someone who can get a victim to a motel room for a few days?”
The foundation is holding its first major fundraiser, a trivia night, on Saturday, March 26.
“We’ve held this trivia night for 10 years,” Lowery said. “The first nine have benefited Mary’s House of Hope. We’re now an independent, nonprofit group, so the proceeds from this one will go directly to the foundation, although we will be willing to share with caregivers. If they can’t give care, the chain of help breaks down.”
The trivia night will begin at 7 p.m. at the Festus-Crystal City Elks, 4 Elks Drive, in Festus. Doors open at 6 p.m. Tables of eight will cost $175 if reserved before March 1 and $200 after that.
Lowery said she hopes the Mary Daniels Foundation becomes the first place a person experiencing domestic violence calls.
“It’s true that most victims are women, but a few are men, and we’ll try to get them placed in a shelter. The nearest one is in Arkansas,” Lowery said.
So far, as the group is still new, it’s not offering services around-the-clock, but Lowery said what it can provide immediately is important.
“We have people who want to help,” she said. “While our volunteers are trained, you don’t need a bunch of fancy qualifications to listen. It helps victims when they know they’re talking with someone who has sympathy for them and wants to help.”
Lowery said the Mary Daniels Foundation also wants to reach out beyond the victim herself.
“There are a lot of people impacted by domestic violence. The children, who don’t have a voice. Other family members. Immediate friends. We want to be able to provide these people with counseling and other help that they may need,” she said.
For information about the trivia night or to become a sponsor or make a reservation, call Sylvia at 636-942-3373 or Kristy at 314-974-4477. Reservations also can be made through the group’s website, marydanielsfoundation.org, or through its Facebook page.