Bethlehem Haven, Women's shelter in Pittsburgh, PA

For my first donation I am giving to a group in my neighborhood that supports a cause near to my heart, particularly so soon after Mothers' Day. Women have the unusual position of being a historically oppressed group, despite not being a minority in the population. While great leaps and bounds have been taken in the recent decades to ensure equal rights for women and several markers of success are on the rise, violence towards and exploitation of women still persist in society.  It is an odd fact of humanity that men are more violent than women. Most violent crimes are committed by men age 18-35 and these can often leave women in difficult situations as their fathers, boyfriends, husbands and others take regrettable actions. Not to say that women can't get them selves into difficult times on their own but these cultural trends can make it particularly hard for women to overcome hardships. Safe havens from hostile environments can give women a chance to recuperate and reorganize their lives so they can go forward and lead the lives of their choosing.

One such place in my home city of Pittsburgh is the Bethlehem Haven. This organization provides housing for homeless women ranging from short term emergency housing durring a crisis to helping organize long term residences for women with chronic mental or other health problems. They provide programs for substance abuse and trauma counseling. A vital aspect of their work is assistance in finding work so women can gain independence. Because many of their guests has been homeless or convicted of crimes in the past, much of this training focuses on re-entering the work force or what to expect from their first professional environment. They also provide basic medical care to women (and men!) in need. They have been active in Pittsburgh for over 30 years and in their current location since 2000.

Places like Bethlehem Haven save lives and open doors but tend to be soo small as to not get much publicity. I choose this particular organization as it is a part of my community, a quick Google search should lead you to a comparable organization in your city such as The Spring of Tampa Bay in Tampa, FL or The Gathering Place in Denver, CO. Most of these organizations will be just as, if not more pleased with a donation of volunteer time as money so there are many ways to be generous. If we all give just a little more than we currently are, it will add up to a big change!

Here's to women! Here's to Pittsburgh! Here's a donation to a fine organization!