MARYSVILLE — As soon as the signal was given, the tables full of jewelry, purses, scarves, shoes, belts, hats, gloves, makeup and other accessories were thronged by more than 70 attendees of “Swapping for a Cause” Oct. 9.
The Holiday Inn Express hosted the fundraiser for Domestic Violence Services of Snohomish County and the Marysville-based Eagle Wings disAbility Ministries.
Eagle Wings Executive Director Kinder Smoots estimated that there are around 62,000 adults with disabilities in the county, ranging from cerebral palsy to autism and Down syndrome.
“We try to integrate them into the community,” said Smoots, who touted Eagle Wings’ mother/daughter tea event as one outlet for such adults. “Many of them are older women whose mothers have passed on, so we provide them with surrogate mothers for the tea.”
Jenny Wieland is the prevention, education and community outreach coordinator for DVS, which takes her to schools countywide.
“In middle school and high school, one-third of students have already been in an abusive relationship,” Wieland said. “That goes up to one half for college graduates.”
Wieland listed DVS resources ranging from a 24-hour crisis line to an emergency shelter, with 19 pre-existing transitional apartments plus another 20 that were recently completed.
“And yes, we do serve abused men as well,” Wieland said. “We connect our clients with legal advocates and support groups for families, women and children.”
The Marysville chapter of Soroptimist International helped organize the fundraiser, which generated $1,700. Club member Linda Clay cited the group’s focus on serving and empowering women through community programs.
“All of the funds that we raise as Soroptimists go back into community programs,” Clay said.
Looking ahead, Clay invited the community to take part in the Soroptimists’ annual fundraising auction at the Medallion Hotel in Smokey Point, starting at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 25.
Last year’s auction generated $34,000 in profit from 175 attendees, and with this year’s event adopting a theme of a “Hollywood Evening with the Stars” (costumes are optional), organizers hope to top those numbers.
Tickets are $55 each, which covers dinner and wine, and is tax-deductible.
For details, or to donate an item, call 425-293-7613.
