• Rotary Year: 2022-2023
  • Application Date: 6/19/2022
  • Club Name: Stuart
  • Project Name: Domestic Violence "Go" Bags
  • Project Total Expenditures: $8,000.00
  • Grant Amount Requested: $4,000.00
  • Describe the Project, its location and its objectives: The Stuart Rotary Club, in partnership with the Patrick County Victim/Witness and Southside Survivor Response Center will purchase supplies to make 100 “Go” bags for victims of Domestic Violence in Patrick County. These “go bags” will contain necessities that victims may rely upon when escaping a domestic violence emergency. These bags will include, but are not limited to, a prepaid cellular phone, a gas card, basic hygiene items, toiletries, change of clothes, journal with pen, stuffed animal for comfort.

    Stuart Rotarians will purchase the supplies to make the bags, will assemble the bags, and donate the bags to our community partners: Patrick County Victim/Witness and Southside Survivor Response Center where advocates who provide direct victim services may distribute the bags to victims of domestic violence.

    Through this project, we hope to empower victims of domestic violence to take a stand against their abuser(s) and end the cycle of domestic violence. We also hope to provide some sense of comfort and security with the items included in these bags.
  • This is the Club’s: Primary Project Application
  • Expected Start Date: 10/1/2022
  • Expected End Date: 4/30/2023
  • Expected Number of Beneficiaries: 100
  • Describe how the project will benefit the community and/or improve the lives of the less fortunate: Each year, domestic violence affects millions, both men and women, of every race, age, religion, culture, and status. It’s not just punches and black eyes—it’s yelling, humiliation, stalking, manipulation, coercion, threats, and isolation. It’s stealing a paycheck, keeping tabs online, non-stop texting, constant use of the silent treatment, or calling someone names. Not only does domestic violence affect women and men, but it also affects the innocent bystanders, our children.

    Oftentimes, victims of domestic violence and their children must flee an abusive situation with only the shirt on their backs. In many cases, victims are unable to go back to their home for personal items. These bags will contain the necessary items that someone should have if they must leave their home on short notice. The prepaid cellular phone will enable these victims or their children to call for help should their abuser take or damage their personal cell phone or make it so their unable to call via their landline. It will also ensure that they can connect to close friends or family members in the event of an emergency. Because Patrick County is an incredibly rural area, the gas gift card or voucher ensures that a victim can pay for gasoline to get to safety at either a family members home or a local shelter. A change of clothes, basic toiletry items, and a stuffed animal provide the comforts of home for the victim and his or her children.
  • Estimated Total Project Volunteer Hours: 100
  • Describe the Rotarian hands-on activities in the project (i.e. non-financial participation): purchase the supplies for the bags
    -make a personal note of encouragement to go in the bags with a rotary logo/4-way-test, etc
    -assemble the bags
    -donate the bags to local victim advocates
  • Describe the publicity plan to inform the general public that this is a Rotary sponsored project: Our club will do the following to inform the public of this positive project:
    -We will put a card with the Rotary logo, club info, and/or 4-way test in each bag.
    -We plan to share information and pictures on the Facebook page, Instagram, and club website
    -We will submit a press release to our local newspaper and radio station
    -Several members will visit on our local radio station’s community news segment and talk about our project
    -We plan to share pictures and content on District 7570’s Facebook page and District newsletter
  • Cooperating Organizations – Please list each cooperating organization, if any: Patrick County Victim/Witness Program
    Southside Survivor Response Center
  • Letter(s) of Participation: SSRC_Rotary_Support_Letter.pdf, Rotary_Letter_of_Support.docx
  • Project Expenditure Budget – list detail uses of funds for the project, or use the Budget Upload: See Budget Upload
  • Project Funding Budget – list detail sources of funds for the project, or use the Budget Upload: See Budget Upload
  • Budget Upload:Rotary_District_Grant_Budget.docx
  • Primary Contact Name: Dayna Bobbitt
  • Primary Contact Rotary Position: Club President
  • Primary Contact Email: dbobbitt@co.patrick.va.us
  • Primary Contact Phone: 2766927334
  • Financial Contact Name: Wayne Kirkpatrick
  • Financial Contact Rotary Position: Service Project Committee Chair & Treasurer
  • Financial Contact Address: 
    1342 Commerce Street
    Stuart, VA 24171
    United States View on Map
  • Financial Contact Email: wynbtyk@embarqmail.com
  • Financial Contact Phone: 540-570-3511
  • District Grant Project Authorization LetterDistrict_Grant_Authorization_Form.pdf
  • Grant Number: 2022-17
  • Grant Award: $4,000.00