THUNDER BAY — A Paris-themed night of elegance and purpose will raise funds for the Faye Peterson House.
The inaugural Hold Her Hand Gala will be on March 2 at Evoke Salon and Spa.
“Faye Peterson House is a shelter for people that identify as women who are escaping violence in their relationship. We work with women that come to us and live with us and also on an outreach basis, so you don't actually have to be with us to receive service,” said Debbie Zweep, executive director of the Faye Peterson House.
Faye Peterson House is putting the funds raised towards its expansion project, which Zweep said has been in the works for nine years.
“Right now, Faye Peterson has what we call a first stage shelter or a crisis shelter. We have property right behind us in our physical shelter, and we're hoping to build what we call supportive housing. That would be for women that we're working with to perhaps live with us on a longer-term basis and we'd be able to keep them safe during that time.
“Although it's not a first stage, it's still supportive housing where they can receive services that they need, anything that they're still working on to keep themselves and their families safe,” Zweep said.
She said that educating people on women abuse in our community is vital.
“Last year the council identified that we have an epidemic of woman abuse IPV (interpersonal violence) within our community,” she said.
“I think it takes more than just Faye Peterson House to keep people safe. It takes a community that understands the issue.
“We always talk about wrapping a woman with support services. We need more than just a one organization keeping women safe and so (the Hold Her Hand Gala) will allow us to reach out and to educate people on how we keep women safe,” Zweep said.
Amanda Benincasa, owner of Evoke Salon and Spa, has been a hairstylist for almost three decades.
“Faye Peterson House has been a cause that I've wanted to get involved with for quite some time in terms of fundraising. What really motivated me this year was hearing about the statistics, not just in Thunder Bay but across Ontario and Canada, with intimate partner violence and Thunder Bay being twice as high as the provincial average and 1.5 times the national average. I felt that I needed to do something,” she said.
Working as a stylist, Benincasa continually creates rapport with women of all ages and stages of life.
“You build relationships in this industry, with your clients, from there you hear about their lives, you hear about the good things and you hear about the bad things. Unfortunately, I've also had to hear about the struggles that women have gone through in their marriages, dealing with either emotional abuse or physical abuse. At the same time hearing from adults that were once children having to grow up in that environment and having those experiences and how it shaped and formed them.
“You're very touched by that and when people share their stories it's an honour that they feel comfortable in confiding in you, but also at the same time, you just want to do something to help.”
Benincasa wanted to contribute in a meaningful way and organize something that is important to her.
“I host women all day long. So, why not host a gathering of generous women who would like to donate to the great cause. It's a large space and we can accommodate something like this,” she said.
Organizers approached some female-owned businesses asking if they’d want to be involved.
“Lewk Clothing is doing a fashion show featuring their spring line. Leviche is doing the catering and she has decided to choose different regions from France and do a food and wine pairing from those regions.
“We have Swag Events doing the decorating, we have some local dancers that are going to be performing. Charmed Diamond Centre donated a diamond necklace for a diamond blitz that we're going to be doing,” she said.
It impressed Benincasa to see the support flow from the community.
“People have come forward enthusiastically sponsoring and wanting to contribute to this event, it warms my heart, I'm very appreciative of that.”
