With all this talk of increased gas prices, there’s a segment of the population that I think has been overlooked: domestic violence victims’ programs and the people they serve.
For those who aren’t aware, gas cards are a critical part of client emergency relief at DV programs. They are an easy way of giving a client multiple tanks of gas when fleeing, and they also can free up money for a financially struggling mother who is having trouble making ends meet. Keep in mind that money is often a huge issue for someone trying to leave a violent partner, who is often the “earner” in the family. Providing some of that financial assistance can help enable someone to make that choice of whether to leave free of financial coercion. Obviously, there’s more to the dynamic than the finances, but every road block removed helps to empower a client.
But gas prices have a major impact on that. The money just doesn’t go as far. With prices about doubled since I worked at a DV program, I imagine that either not as many clients get served, or those that do just don’t get as much help.
These programs generally receive a fair amount of public funding, but I know from experience that it’s simply not enough to meet the needs of any particular community. Even at the best of times, it was never enough to help our clients as much as we would have liked. We relied heavily on the generosity of the community which was considerable.
So, as you plan where you’ll be doing your giving in the coming year, please consider your local DV program. Many of them are United Way agencies, so you can designate your donation and get it taken directly out of your paycheck. It’s money well spent.
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