In October, we launched our end of year campaign, highlighting the stories of 5 women who together had 188 moments of change. But there was one comment made towards the end of the month that really made us stop:
“If it wasn’t for 431, I wouldn’t be doing any of this.”
This is because of our donors. Every class, every coaching session, and every workbook is free for the women we serve, and that's possible because people like you give.
In October, three moments stood out:
One advocate sat in a courtroom so a woman wouldn't have to face it alone...
One woman started a full-time job at the new Walmart and hasn't been late once...
Three pairs of women made plans for fall fun on their own time, outside of 431...
The advocate who sat in the room. There are many systems that are broken, and women feel it the most. They're told to "wait" and to bring in more evidence of abuse. They walk into 431's offices with a suitcase, or journals, budgets, and a broken box of paperwork and testimonies, trying to prove to a broken system that a hand left a mark on them nine months ago. Then, after filing, they wait six to nine more months, wondering if a judge is going to ask for more proof.
Can you imagine taking that step and then waiting that long?
This fall, many of 431's ladies had her court date. Each time, her advocate went with her. Kelly and Robin sat in the courtrooms beside each one and offered peace in one of the most stressful hours a woman can face. No woman should have to walk into that room alone. That's what a gift to 431 becomes: a safe, steady person in the seat next to her.
The woman who keeps showing up. When the new Walmart opened, one of 431's ladies was hired full-time. She hasn't been late once.
That might sound small. It isn't. Earlier this year, only 32% of women who reached out to 431 said they consistently follow through with commitments. Showing up on time, shift after shift, is what consistency looks like once it becomes a habit. It builds trust with a manager, makes a paycheck steady, and gives a woman proof she can point to herself: I said I would, and I did.
Six coaching sessions, dozens of hours of conversations and planning, and new rhythms of stability identified and put into place is what lead to that success. Now for her to keep going!
The friendships no one scheduled. Three different pairs of women got together this fall for pumpkin patches, walks, and a football game, outside of 431 and on their own time. No class on the calendar. No advocate sending reminders. Just women who met at 431 deciding to keep showing up for each other.
These aren't program connections anymore. They're true friendships. And that's the goal that you helped fund: a community that keeps going without 431 holding it together.
Every woman who comes to 431 has had a relationship break somewhere. And yet, in God's funny way, the only way to heal that jagged edge is through more people. Safe ones. Consistent ones.
And that's the gospel in a nutshell. Adam and Eve broke their relationship with God and with each other. God's solution was to come down in a new form, Emmanuel, and show us that we had Him all wrong. He IS still trustworthy. He IS still good. He IS still active. He DOES still love us. He came down to show us a new way.
An advocate in a courtroom. A coach doing a budget. A class teaching a new skill. These mirror God’s own heart.
So here is the need, plainly: more women are asking for help, and every one of them needs safe, consistent people beside her. Will you be one of them during this holiday season?
— Rachel Peck, CEO
