Of women who reported being raped and/or physically assaulted since the age of 18, three quarters (76 percent) were victimized by a current or former husband, cohabitating partner, date or boyfriend.

— (Prevalence Incidence, and Consequences of Violence Against Women: Findings from the National Violence Against Women Survey, U.S. Department of Justice, November, 1998.)

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and Hiyaah Power Inc., has been rallying the forces to fight the war against domestic violence for months. Hiyaah Power Inc., has initiated "Lend Me Your Hand" an annual 50 State Shelter Donation Campaign scheduled to deliver resources and services to women and children this December 2004. Women’s shelters, businesses and organizations all over the country are combining their services, products and resources to aid and empower battered women and their families.

"Lend Me Your Hand" has enlisted in this war because the costs and casualities are too high for consciensious people to stand by and do nothing. About 95% of victims of domestic violence are women. Over 50% of all women will experience physical violence in an intimate relationship, and for 24-30% of those women, the battering will be regular and on-going. Every 15 seconds the crime of battering occurs.

-(National Colition Against Domestic Violence)

The driving force behind "Lend Me Your Hand" is an ever-expanding group of several powerful female headed organizations as well as corporate partners such as Black Enterprise Magazine who have dedicated themselves to using their resources and influence to battle this incideous societal ill. "Lend Me Your Hand" has joined the army of organizations, companies and concerned citizen all over the US to expose the epidemic proportions, the loss of precious human lives and the huge financial costs of domestic violence and in this country. The costs to our society are astronaumical. The District of Columbia Coalition Against Domestic Violence reports the following:

· Domestic violence causes an estimated $150 million in medical expenses annually.

· Every day, four women die because of domestic violence.

· Businesses lose approximately $100 million annually in lost wages, sick leave, absenteeism and lowered productivity.

· An estimated 50% of all homelessness among women and children is due to domestic violence.

· Children living in homes where there is domestic violence are 15 times more likely to be abused.

(http://dccadv.org/)

"Lend Me Your Hand" has positioned itself to fight domestic violence and empower women by utilizing the power inherent in numbers. Just by the sheer force, the energy and cooperation of concerned individuals, companies, non-profits and corporations all over the US, women and children will be helped in real and meaningful ways. In 1992 Medical News, American Medical Association, reported that family violence costs the nation from $5 to $10 billion annually in medical expenses, police and court costs, shelters, foster care, sick leave, absenteeism, and non-productivity. The women of "Lend Me Your Hand" share a mission to provide shelter residents with a much-needed sense of support in the form of cash and in-kind donations.

Providing shelter residents with basic resources, supported by mentor/mentee relationships and community involvement, will increase self-esteem and provide much-needed support mechanisms. This mission will effect change and foster healing on all levels. By coming together in this way LMYH supporters will be helping women to lead productive, secure lives. LMYH supporters will be advancing and improving all of society by empowering domestic violence survivors be able to provide the structure and safety they need to send healthy, happy, empowered and productive young people into our society.

October is about Awareness and Prevention of domestic violence. Many people may not really know what domestic violence specifically is. Erasing the vague ideas and sketchy notions is just one of the ways LMYH seeks to fight against domestic violence. The Women's Law Initiative sets forth clear and concise criteria for what types of behaviors fall into what can be considered as domestic violence:

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: is a pattern of abusive behavior which keeps one partner in a position of power over the other partner through the use of fear, intimidation and control.

PHYSICAL ABUSE: Grabbing, pinching, shoving, slapping, hitting, hair pulling, biting, etc. Denying medical care or forcing alcohol and/or drug use.

SEXUAL ABUSE: Coercing or attempting to coerce any sexual contact without consent, e.g., marital rape, forcing sex after physical beating, attacks on sexual parts of the body or treating another in a sexually demeaning manner.

ECONOMIC ABUSE: Making or attempting to make a person financially dependent, e.g., maintaining total control over financial resources, withholding access to money, forbidding attendance at school or employment.

EMOTIONAL ABUSE: Undermining a person's sense of self-worth, e.g., constant criticism, belittling one's abilities, name calling, damaging a partner's relationship with the children.

PSYCHOLOGICAL ABUSE: Causing fear by intimidation, threatening physical harm to self, partner or children, destruction of pets and property, mind games or forcing isolation from friends, family, school and/or work. (http://www.womenslaw.org)

Many women in abusive situations are asked, "Why didn't you leave?" In fact, no one has the right to question or judge a woman in this way. In all actuality, this kind of questioning often serves as a continuation of the abuse a woman has already suffered. It insinuates that she, the victim of abuse, is to blame.

There are many complex reasons that cause a woman to remain trapped in abusive situations. Friends, family members and others may "mean well" but only trained domestic violence counselors and/or other qualified mental health practitioners really know how to council these women properly. For instance, women may reman in abusive relationships due to the desperate housing situation that exists in this country, the fact that women still make considerably less for every dollar men earn and the fact that when a woman leaves an abusive partner her risk of death is significantly higher than at any other time in her life.

Often times women who suffer violence in their homes have absolutely no where to go. It is not a misconception of the women. Resources are in fact shamefully diminished. The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence states, "All too often the question, 'Why do women stay in violent relationships?' is answered with a victim blaming attitude. Women victims of abuse often hear that they must like or need such treatment, or they would leave. Others may be told that they are one of the many "women who love too much" or who have "low self-esteem." The truth is that no one enjoys being beaten, no matter what their emotional state or self image." A woman may not leave battering immediately because:

The women and supporters of "Lend Me Your Hand" would like to ask everyone, "Why don't we do all in our power to empower women in this country to leave violent relationships?" Anyone can join "Lend Me Your Hand" in posing this question by simply reaching out to these women with any size cash or in-kind donation to the program. "Resources," say LB Lacey, Executive Director of Hiyaah Power, Inc., "are the key to solving this problem. My mother is a domestic violence survivor. The resources that "Lend Me Your Hand" is working to get to women and children today would have been the answer to all her prayers so many painful years ago."

If the resources for women and their children to re-locate or find adequate housing after fleeing an abusive situation do not exist, the women and their children are trapped. This is what everyone involved with "Lend Me your Hand" seeks to change.

The "Lend Me your Hand" program endeavors to make it easier for everyone to contribute in some way by serving as a dynamic conduit of resources, services and support that will flow into US domestic violence shelters and to the women and children forced to live in them. These resources will directly and positively impact and save lives. Empowering shelters to empower women and ultimately help these women to find a safe place to live is a vital component of the program. The End Abuse organization has documented the dire situation faced by women and children needing housing after escaping an abusive situation. Please read the following telling report at: http://EndAbuse.org/resources/facts/Housing.pdf

"Lend Me Your Hand" has identified food, health and beauty products, educational resources, job placement, professional clothing, counseling services, access to technological resources, transportation and child care assistance as core needs of women in shelters. Niambi Jarvis founder of Hiyaah Power Inc., an organization dedicated to ministering to women’s need for empowerment, states, "Women in shelters need to know that it is never too late for them to be what they might have been. Through "Lend Me Your Hand" we are helping to form a unique network of shelters and a comprehensive database of resource providers to help women achieve empowerment through self-sufficiency."

The need is great. "Lend Me Your Hand" is targeting all 50 states in order to identify one shelter per state to plug into this powerful program. In addition to getting much needed resources to women in the shelters the program also seeks to align with domestic violence prevention advocates to educate the public on solutions to this devastating problem. The National Domestic Violence Hotline reports having received more than 700,000 calls for assistance since February 1996 and since that time 31,260 women have been murdered. – National Domestic Violence Hotline, December 2001

"Lend Me Your Hand" encourages all individuals, companies, communities and organizations dedicated to the empowerment and well being of women and their families to contribute in any way large or small to war against domestic violence. The success of "Lend Me Your Hand" is largely dependent upon a comprehensive database of resource providers who enable the program to help the women in our nation’s shelters. If you, your organization, or company would like to become a vital a link in this important chain of providers please take a moment to send "Lend Me Your Hand" an email with the following information: Organization Name/ Contact Person / Complete Mailing Address /Telephone Number. You will receive a "Lend Me Your Hand" Empowerment Provider Kit in the which will include a form whereupon you can tell "Lend Me Your Hand" more about the services your organization offers and you can join the fight.

For more information or to order your kit please contact Niambi Jarvis at Hiyaah Power Inc. at info@HiyaahPower.org.

If you or someone you know is being threatened by domestic violence the National Domestic Violence/Abuse Hotline offers a 24-hour-a-day hotline staffed by trained counselors ready to provide immediate crisis intervention assistance. Callers can be connected directly to help in their communities, including emergency services and shelters as well as receive information and referrals, counseling and assistance in reporting abuse. All calls are confidential, and callers may remain anonymous if they choose. PO Box 161810, Austin, TX 78716 800.799.SAFE (7233); TDD: 800.787.3224