Growing Awareness for Domestic Violence

Each year, Baker County law enforcement officers participate in the Annual Baker County Sheriff’s Office Beard Contest to help raise awareness about domestic violence and to raise money for Hubbard House, the domestic violence center serving Baker and Duval counties.

For the months of October and November, any law enforcement officer could give a $20 donation per month to benefit Hubbard House in order to grow their beards and compete in the contest. The contest started October 1, the first day of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and ended November 30. There were a total of 36 participants in the 2011 Baker County Sheriff’s Office Beard Contest.

The bearded officers met Friday, December 2, at the Baker County Sheriff’s Office facility, to be judged for a chance to win first place in the categories of fullest beard, neatest beard and best goatee. The winning officers received various prizes from local businesses.

The winners are:

• Best Goatee: Ben Anderson
• Neatest Beard: Kelby Crawford
• Fullest Beard: Buddy Harvey

Baker County Sheriff Joey Dobson proudly presented J.J. Sweet, Hubbard House Baker County Advocate, with $1,320 raised through the annual contest.

“Hubbard House is extremely grateful for all that Baker County law enforcement does to help end domestic violence,” said Sweet. “Above all they do, to help raise money for Hubbard House’s programs and services is icing on the cake.”

The donations given by the officers to participate in the beard contest help support Hubbard House’s work in providing emergency shelter, a 24-hour domestic violence hotline, therapeutic childcare, school-based education, counseling, court advocacy, and extensive adult and youth outreach services. Donations such as this help Hubbard House serve over 6,000 clients each year.

Domestic violence is a crime that affects thousands of women, children, and men in Baker and Duval Counties each year. 

If you or someone you know is in an abusive relationship please call the Hubbard House 24-hour domestic violence hotline at (904) 354-3114 or (800) 500-1119. Hubbard House can help.

ABOUT HUBBARD HOUSE: Founded as the first domestic violence shelter in Florida in 1976, Hubbard House is a certified, comprehensive domestic violence center providing programs and services to more than 6,000 women, children, and men annually in Duval and Baker counties. While Hubbard House is most known for its emergency shelter, the agency also provides extensive adult and youth outreach services, school-based education, therapeutic childcare, batterers’ intervention programs, court advocacy and volunteer and community education opportunities. Visit www.hubbardhouse.org to learn more.

By Ashley Johnson Scott

Sharing the Gift of the Season: TLS Students and Propeller Club

While many celebrate the blessings of the holiday season with their families, other families are living with the terrors of domestic violence. The Hubbard House Emergency Shelter will be home to more than 80 women, children and men looking for safety over the holidays. For those who have been affected by domestic violence, holiday joy is often more of a wish than a reality.

For 10 years now the University of North Florida Transportation and Logistics Society (TLS) students and the Propeller Club of the United States Port of Jacksonville have teamed up to help make the holidays a little brighter for the those staying in the Hubbard House shelter.

Each year students from TLS conduct a toy and toiletries drive to benefit the residents of Hubbard House’s emergency shelter. This year the students donated $2000 worth of toys, toiletries, and gift cards. In addition, the Propeller Club provided $500 in gifts and decorations to brighten the lobby of Hubbard House. On Saturday, Dec. 3 members of the Propeller Club and TLS students delivered the gifts and decorated the lobby for the residents.

“For TLS and the Propeller Club the holiday season starts with the Hubbard House,” said Lynn Brown, Associate Director of the UNF Transportation and Logistics Flagship Program. “The true spirit of the season is helping people who are facing difficult times. As advisor of a student group at UNF it is very rewarding to watch students give of themselves to benefit members of our community who are less fortunate.”

Hubbard House relies on the generosity of the community, such as that given by TLS and the Propeller Club, to help make the holidays a little easier for families who have experienced violence in their home.

Holiday donation opportunities include:

Holiday Food Drive – Nov. 1 – Dec. 31: Emergency shelter provides groceries to over 80 families to be able to prepare three meals daily, plus snacks. Please help us keep the Hubbard House pantry stocked with your donations of non-perishable food items.

Holiday Toy Store – Nov. 30 – Dec. 23: Two magical Holiday Stores are created within the shelter each year – a Mother’s Store and the Children’s Store. The stores are stocked with new toys and gifts generously donated by individuals, families, associations and businesses. With this program, families currently in shelter, or families who have recently left the shelter to pursue peace for their families, are given the opportunity to select gifts for their loved ones. This gives program participants the opportunity to know the joy of giving, even during crisis.

For more information on Hubbard House’s holiday programs contact April Griffin at (904) 354-0076 ext. 652, holidays@hubbardhouse.org, or visit http://www.hubbardhouse.org/news-events/.

If you or someone you know is in an abusive relationship please call the Hubbard House 24-Hour Domestic Violence Hotline at (904) 354-3114 or (800) 500-1119. Hubbard House can help.

ABOUT HUBBARD HOUSE: Founded as the first domestic violence shelter in Florida in 1976, Hubbard House is a certified, comprehensive domestic violence center providing programs and services to more than 6,000 women, children, and men annually in Duval and Baker counties. While Hubbard House is most known for its emergency shelter, the agency also provides extensive adult and youth outreach services, school-based education, therapeutic childcare, batterers’ intervention programs, court advocacy and volunteer and community education opportunities. Visit www.hubbardhouse.org to learn more.

By Ashley Johnson Scott