Ball to raise funds, awareness for domestic-violence shelter
HEBER SPRINGS — Paper faces will be on display in the Mystery Masquerade Ball Fundraiser to benefit Margie’s Haven House, starting at 6 p.m. Saturday.
The ball will take place at the Heber Springs Community Center, and attendees can purchase their tickets at the door.
Shoshana Wells, executive director of Margie’s Haven House for domestic-violence victims, said
that when trying to come up with an idea for a fundraiser, the nonprofit organization decided to conduct a community poll on the subject.
“The masquerade ball won, hands down,” she said.
“A unique and fun” experience is what Wells hopes attendees will have at the Saturday-evening affair, which will run from 6-9. Besides dancing and music put on by DJ Louis Short, those in attendance can expect plenty of edible treats and the opportunity to compete in the Masquerade Costume Contest and participate in other activities, such as a scavenger hunt.
Five members of the community will judge the costume contest, and participants will compete for first-, secondand third-place prizes. Judges will include Cleburne County Sheriff Chris Brown; Cleburne County Judge Jerry Holmes; Kim Ferguson with Lady Ferg Fitness; Rebecca Prince Smith with the Tilley and Prince law firm; and James Jackson with The Sun-Times in Heber
Springs.
Founded in 1989, Margie’s Haven House in Heber Springs, is a safe place for domesticviolence victims and their children to turn when leaving a dangerous situation.
The home can accommodate 15 women and children, Wells said. There are rooms for both single clients and those with families.
Some of the rooms in Margie’s Haven House include a children’s playroom, a pantry, a dining room, a kitchen and multiple bathrooms, all of which are fully functioning.
The shelter is the only one in the county to help those in domestic-violence situations, and many of the clients come from out of the area or even outside of Arkansas.
Wells said domestic violence is high in the United States, and even more so in Arkansas. According to Women & Children First, Arkansas is No. 1 in the nation for the number of African-American women murdered by their abusers.
“I always say it’s bad that we have to have [the shelter], but I thank God that we do,” she said.
Proceeds from the inaugural event will benefit Margie’s Haven House in several ways. Wells said she and the board members would like to use some of the money raised for general operations of the shelter, such as utility bills, and the rest of the funds for “sustainability,” during the times when the nonprofit may be short the money to pay its many bills.
At the house, clients can receive help for gaining employment — such as instruction on resume writing or even obtaining a GED. Other services the shelter provides include Christmas and Thanksgiving baskets, a food bank, a support group and assistance for clients to transition to a new home, among many other services.
Wells said it is often difficult for a victim to leave her abusive situation, and there are not many places she can turn. Of Arkansas’ 75 counties, there are fewer than 40 shelters for victims of domestic violence, she said.
“When they need to get out immediately, we’ll get them here somehow,” Wells said.
She further emphasized that when leaving a situation of domestic violence and heading to this Heber County safe haven, victims need not worry about bringing anything with them because the house has it all. Cribs and high chairs, hygiene supplies and food are some of the many items available to those who enter the shelter.
Margie’s Haven House is fully functioning 24 hours a day, every day, Wells said. Victims of domestic violence can call the shelter’s hotline at (501) 362-6757 anytime for assistance.
Volunteers of the house are trained and sign confidentiality agreements to protect those who are in the shelter.
Tickets for the ball are a minimum donation of $20 per person at the door. No tickets will be sold in advance, and those younger than 18 are not permitted.
Guests are asked to dress in semiformal or costume-formal attire.
“It’s a learning experience, this fundraiser,” Wells said. “It’s going to be fun. I think a lot of people will enjoy it.”
For more information about the ball or Margie’s Haven House, visit facebook.com/margieshavenhouseinc.