Sweet Tea Social raises funds for My Sister's Place

Several women gathered April 6 to have fun and help raise money for My Sister’s Place.

Organized by Kate Stotts-Kuhar, Prokos Rentals general manager, the Prokos Rentals Sweet Tea Social featured food and drinks, music, a silent auction, giveaways and more.

The event was held in the Prokos Rentals event center, located near the State and Carpenter street intersection. The theme was loosely based on the Kentucky Derby with the attendees wearing colorful hats and fascinators.

My Sister’s Place is a domestic violence agency in Athens that has 11 beds for relationship-abuse victims. It also provides holistic support and resources that range from helping people fill prescriptions to getting vehicle titles to helping find shelter.

“Most likely it’ll be used for emergency needs for our clients,” said Executive Director Kelly Madewell of the fundraiser proceeds. “There are a lot of needs that our clients have that grants don’t cover. ... If somebody calls the hotline and we’re full, but they have some place to stay in another state, we could buy a bus ticket. ... If someone needs a birth certificate or tags on their car, prescription needs, just a lot of small needs that may seem small to others, but can really make a big difference to someone who’s completely starting over, we help with that.”

Some proceeds from the Sweet Tea Social will go toward My Sister’s Paws, which helps pay for pet care. Madewell said, the program is one of the nonprofit’s most expensive.

According to the nonprofit’s website, many victims of relationship abuse have had their pet’s lives threatened or have seen done to the animal. Often, victims choose not to seek shelter because their pet is threatened. My Sister’s Place has an on-site shelter for residents’ pets , removing that barrier.

“It’s an expensive program that we really run through funds for,” Madewell said. “We have a kennel in the backyard, but we’ll pay vet bills (with the funds). If funds allow, (we’ll pay for) kenneling elsewhere, if someone is going to treatment or something long-term like that.”

Madewell said My Sister’s Place gets about a thousand hotline calls per year.

“We are almost always full,” Madewell said. “The need is great for donations, especially to our pet program. ... We’re low on funds for that.”

Stotts-Kuhar noted that she hopes to make the Sweet Tea Social an annual event. She said My Sister’s Place provides a great service to Athens County that needs community support.

If you are a victim of relationship abuse, call My Sister’s Place hotline at 1-800-443-3402.