Portsmouth, NH – HAVEN, formerly known as A Safe Place and Sexual Assault Support Services, is the chosen organization in March to receive the Employee Donation of the Month from Partners Bank.

Every month, Partners Bank selects an employee to choose an organization to receive a $1,000 donation. This month, Customer Service Assistant Arlene Machado was the chosen employee, and she selected HAVEN, a 501(c)(3) organization based in Portsmouth.

“I chose this organization because of its inclusive support and advocacy for victims of violence and harassment,” said Machado.

HAVEN’s mission is to prevent sexual assault, domestic violence, stalking, and to support and empower all people to heal from abuse and rebuild their lives. They do this through education, support programs, and social change.

Machado opened up and shared, “Myself and many close to me have had situations in their lives where support was crucial, from loved ones or programs like those that HAVEN has to offer.”

Education is a powerful tool to prevent victimization. HAVEN’s Violence Prevention Educators travel to schools in Rockingham and Strafford counties to teach children in grades K-12. The age-appropriate, interactive curricula include topics like bodily autonomy, listening to instincts, seeking help from trusted adults, boundaries, sexual harassment, consent, healthy relationships, and more.

For people in sexual assault or domestic violence situations, help may seem far away. That is why community outreach is an important program. The goal is to connect with survivors, their loved ones, and other professionals (such as law enforcement, mental health counselors, and medical professionals). This network is crucial to support those who need HAVEN’s services, so they know that they are not alone.

Their network provides HAVEN with resources to help their clients. Their short-term emergency shelter, for example, is a program that relies on community support through volunteerism and funding and is crucial to the safety of victims of sexual assault and domestic violence. They provide counseling; housing, employment, and higher education assistance; short- and long-term financial planning; and teach valuable life skills.

In recent years, HAVEN has also partnered with Camp HOPE America, first evidence-based camping and mentoring program in the United States to focus on children and teens exposed to domestic violence, to offer a weeklong camp for kids aged 7-11. At the camp, they are challenged to step outside of their comfort zone and develop skills that will help them overcome their fears.

Lastly, HAVEN provides a 24-hour confidential hotline: 1-603-994-(SAFE) 7233. Help is a phone call away for those who need it.

Partners Bank and its employees want a better future for the community and its members, and that is what the $1,000 donation to HAVEN will go towards. The fight to end sexual assault and domestic violence is an ongoing battle, but partnering with important organizations like HAVEN gets us closer to the end.