Domestic Violence is Real

September 21, 2021

***Names and specific details altered to protect the identity of the victims***
Jessica had been divorced about one year when she thought about dating again. This idea, almost exhausted her as she had little free time. She worked two jobs: one as a waitress and one as a part time sales clerk. She also was a single mom. Her ex-husband had moved to another state and rarely - if ever saw their two children. She was lonely. She craved adult conversation and a person to call - for no reason. She would wait on couples in the restaurant and long for a partner who wanted to take her out to eat and spoil her with flowers and gifts. Shawn was a regular at the restaurant. He was very handsome. Tall, muscular, great smile and a flirt. He always told Jessica that she looked pretty and was the best server at the place. He often asked her, "When do you get off?", but she would just smile and carry on her business. One day, Shawn came in and asked her how she was doing. Just so happens, it was a terrible day. Her electric bill was due - ($200+), her kids needed school supplies and shoes...and she had only $28.00 to her name. She normally didn't tell customers her business, but Shawn was so kind...she sort of broke down. "I'll be working all day today, because I need cash. I am in a bit of a jam...so will be a long day for me." she told him. He smiled, said that stinks and ordered his breakfast. When he left, she went to clean the table and realized that Shawn had left her a $200.00 tip - CASH! Unbelievable, no one had ever left her a tip like that. Shawn was amazing. Jessica finally agreed to a date with Shawn, and it was hands down the best date that she had ever been on. He was a gentleman, charming, funny and so attentive. He complimented her all night and even showed up at her house with flowers. SWOOON. Jessica was falling in love: hard and fast. Over the next couple of months, the relationship became more serious and she introduced Shawn to her family. No one else saw Shawn the way that she did, and frankly their opinions didn't matter. She loved him. They moved in together. One year into the relationship, Shawn wanted Jessica to quit her waitressing job. She was stressed, he made plenty of money and he didn't like the way other men would hit on her while she was working. In fact, he began hanging out at the restaurant bar every time she worked - to keep an eye on her. Shawn was starting to get very agitated when she would talk to male customers and accuse her of sleeping with them. Jessica didn't quit, but she did cut her hours. She would only work the breakfast shift from now on so Shawn wouldn't worry about the drinking crowd - and men flirting with her. Shawn also began making fun of Jessica, degrading her accomplishments and accusing her of all sorts of terrible things. If she didn't answer the phone, he would show up wherever she was - screaming and ranting. He would delete messages from her family and threaten to take his own life if she ever left. She finally got the nerve to break up and kick him out of the apartment. This is when the real abuse started: bricks through her windows, break ins to her car and home, threats to family and friends, non-stop calls to her employer and hacks into her accounts. Shawn would still show up at her work...he would vandalize her car, spit in her face and break items at the store. The police were called, but he would be long gone. No one took her complaints seriously until he tried to kill her. Jessica needed to hide from this man and escape the abuse. Thankfully, she was able to get into the local domestic violence abuse shelter until he was sent to prison. With assistance from other local organizations (funded by United Way of Wayne and Holmes) she was able to move her and her children to a new place in a new town, graduate from college and get a full time position with benefits. Every donation to United Way of Wayne and Holmes helps someone like Jessica escape a troubled path and be on the road to recovery and success. Consider a donation of any amount to Be the Light to other people just like Jessica.

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Why we stay nonpartisan

By Katie Koglman • October 7, 2026

United We Help: Why United Way Wayne and Holmes Stays Nonpartisan Turn on the television. Scroll social media. Check your mailbox. Election season brings a steady stream of political messages, each competing for our attention and asking us to choose a side. It can be overwhelming, especially when you are trying to separate facts from opinions and decide whom to trust. At United Way Wayne and Holmes Counties, we value the trust our community places in us. That is why we want to be clear about our role during elections.We do not endorse candidates, oppose candidates, or tell people whom to vote for. As a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, we are prohibited from participating in political campaigns for or against candidates for public office. This is a legal requirement , not simply an organizational preference. Our responsibility is to serve Wayne and Holmes Counties and bring people together to help our neighbors. Nonpartisan does not mean silent We see the challenges people face every day: families struggling to afford groceries, workers facing transportation barriers, children needing opportunities to learn, and neighbors searching for mental health support. We have a role in helping our community and policymakers understand those needs. We can share information, educate elected officials, build relationships, and speak up about issues connected to our mission. We can also engage in some lobbying on specific legislation, within the limits that apply to charitable organizations. Speaking up about a community need is different from asking you to vote for a particular candidate. Can we do that? Our “Can We Do That? A Quick Guide to Nonprofit Advocacy” graphic uses a traffic-light approach to explain the difference. Green: Speak up for our community. Share stories, explain community needs, educate policymakers, and encourage civic participation. Yellow: Know the rules. Supporting or opposing specific legislation is lobbying, which comes with limits and responsibilities. Red: No candidate endorsements. We cannot support or oppose candidates, contribute organizational funds to their campaigns, or use our organizational voice to tell you whom to elect. We can encourage people to register and vote, and provide voter information, as long as those efforts remain neutral and do not favor or oppose candidates or political parties. Your vote belongs to you You may hear us discuss hunger, literacy, housing, transportation, or other issues affecting local families. You may see us meeting with elected officials to help them understand what is happening in our communities. Those conversations are about the people we serve. They are not candidate endorsements. We encourage you to ask questions, examine reliable information, learn about candidates, and make your own informed choices. The neighbors who turn to us for help have different backgrounds, beliefs, and political views. So do the donors, volunteers, and partners who make our work possible. Helping our community takes all of us. Election season will come and go. Our commitment to Wayne and Holmes counties continues regardless of the outcome. We encourage all of you to vote, and vote for who you think is the best candidate! Early voting begins October 6, 2026 through Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026 and Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. To find where you should go to vote Click Here. Go VOTE!!