Sheltering Wings volunteers believe in ending violence by example
Annual one-day event on March 19
DANVILLE, Ind. (Mar. 2) – On the morning of March 19, Don Raymond likely won’t be working his part-time job with the Indiana Pacers and Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Instead, he and 450 other men will become role models for elementary school kids by performing a simple act: Reading out loud to classes across Hendricks County. They’re part of Men IN Action READ, a volunteer program of Sheltering Wings, a domestic abuse shelter in Hendricks County. The annual one-day event is sponsored by Duke Energy and Hendricks Regional Health.
Sheltering Wings needs male volunteers to read “What Should Danny Do? School Day” by Adir Levy and Ganit Levy. The book allows children to choose from eight endings, allowing them to see the natural consequences of positive and negative choices. You can sign up and/or cover the cost of a book at shelteringwings.org/menread.
“Men IN Action is a group of men who believe we can help end all forms of violence by showing children that strength and power lie in positive actions,” said Melissa Echerd, Prevention and Education Officer. “They give young people role models in everyday life.”
Raymond said volunteering can have lasting impact. After last year’s Men IN Action READ, he was giving a Fieldhouse tour that included some of the students he’d read to. As teachers called everyone to gather for a picture at the tour’s final stop, one young man who had lagged behind all day didn’t seem to want to join the group photo.
“So I approached him and asked if he’d stand beside me in the picture, and his demeanor immediately changed. He may not have been the teacher’s favorite student, but he did react positively when I greeted him individually,” Raymond said. “Helping males who don’t feel a part of the group and need a little extra is what Men IN Action is all about.”
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mar. 2, 2020
CONTACT
Kevin Carr, Development and Communications Officer
(317) 386-5050
kcarr@shelteringwings.org
Since 2002, Sheltering Wings has given nearly 20,000 gives domestic abuse survivors control over their lives. We offer crisis/emergency services, life skills, children’s services and community abuse prevention/education in a welcoming, Christ-centered environment. Beginning in 2020, we can house men who are victims as well as women and children. Start building a stable, independent life today. You deserve it.
