Clinton Township Newsletter

1 6 m a y 2 0 2 5 W W W . C L I N T O N T W P N E W S L E T T E R . C O M A Note: We at CTNL were sorry to hear of the recent death of Cheryl Okie, owner of The Wild Iris flower shop in Clinton. We will miss her incredible warmth at the plant shop – she touched many lives – and we know many local residents miss her as well. There is a GoFundMe with proceeds to support her children if you are so moved. You can find the GoFundMe link at: https://gofund.me/e91d9d25. This month, C3Q spoke with Executive Director of SAFE in Hunterdon, Lauren van Metre. C3Q: Hello Lauren, thank you for chatting today! What is "SAFE in Hunterdon", and how did you get involved? LvM: SAFE in Hunterdon is a 501c3 nonprofit agency for survivors of domestic or sexual violence in Hunterdon County, NJ. It was founded in 1978, and used to be called "Women's Crisis Services." It began as a hotline, then it grew into what it is today, which is a whole menu of crisis services. The hotline operates 24/7, 365 days a year, with trained advocates answering the phone. Crisis services can help someone find crisis housing, or provide the stepping stones that someone needs, such as counselling for children or adults; counselling which can be individual or in groups, as well as virtual or in person. We assist with legal services for court hearings, attorney referrals, and also provide prevention and outreach for education on what healthy relationships are, or how to engage with someone who might be experiencing domestic violence. We are also a crisis response team for the police. Our goal is to meet clients where they are at that moment of crisis, and provide emotional support and assistance; we're a safety net for people navigating or living through a difficult time. SAFE in Hunterdon currently has between 45-50 staff and volunteers. We have a safe house which operates at maximum capacity, which is sixteen beds. We're currently trying to expand our facility to twenty beds. I personally got involved with this organization after being a police officer in Flemington Borough. I learned a lot about de-escalation at the Police Academy, and when I answered my first call for domestic violence, I realized that it would be my passion. I learned everything I could on how to best help clients and offer assistance. C3Q: Is there a need for SAFE in this area? P e o p l e a s s u m e t h a t things are so peaceful around here. LvM: Everyone knows someone who has been touched by domestic v i o l e n c e . H u n t e r d o n County is not untouched by DV, and comes with its own challenges. There's a lot of isolation in a rural c o m m u n i t y . N e i g h b o r s m i g h t b e o u t s i d e o f s h o u t i n g d i s t a n c e a n d unable to intervene, 99% are experiencing financial abuse in an area where there is not much cheap or easy public transportation. I t ' s n o t v e r y w a l k a b l e , which can be an issue. T h e t h i n g s t h a t make Hunterdon so wonderful and unique can also make it difficult in this kind of situation. Anyone can experience domestic violence, and how it looks can vary with economic status. You never know what someone's motivation to leave is; sometimes people wake up and see that this is their chance. We're here to provide services no matter what their situation is. If they are under the age of 18, we can still help them. Children are welcome to accompany their parent, and we have a few programs where we can help house their pets. C3Q: This is such an important organization. What are some of your upcoming events, and how can people get involved or help out? LvM: We love to be out in the community, educating people, so keep us in mind for scouting events, corporate training, etc. One of the things we really focus on is that being able to make healthy decisions for relationships in adults, starts with kids understanding ownership of their own bodies. Kids should understand that boundaries are okay, and who they can talk to if they feel uncomfortable. We get a lot of awesome support from some community organizations. This winter, we partnered with Hunterdon Healthcare to have "Cupcake Wars," which was such a delightful and fun fundraiser; it sold out in 22 minutes! Coming up this May, we have our first ever concert fundraiser at Music Mountain Theatre in Amwell. To volunteer with us, volunteers must be at least 18 years old, and we provide a free, 60-hour training to all volunteers. We make sure they are equipped to handle situations and how to empower clients. We hold three training sessions a year, usually in the fall, winter, and spring. Ultimately, SAFE in Hunterdon helps people to move forward in joy and safety. C3Q: Thank you so much, Lauren, and thanks to all your staff and volunteers at SAFE in Hunterdon. If you or a loved one is suffering from sexual or domestic abuse, call the SAFE in Hunterdon hotline at: 908.788.4044. You can follow SAFE in Hunterdon news and events at their Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/SAFEHunterdon or: www.SafeInHunterdon.org. n Local residents Rachel Sprague and her husband Russell are raising their two young children in Annandale. She thinks that Clinton Township is a delightful place to live. Welcome to with Rachel Sprague * C linton ree Questions *

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