Via West Gives Back this Holiday Season!

During the glorious Winter Wonderland weekend at Via West on December 2-4, our 64 participants created wellness bags for women and children affected by domestic violence. Rather than stuffing stockings full of goodies for themselves, our teens and adults selected products to promote health, including toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, deodorant and lip balm. An outgrowth of the Health Self Management Across the Lifespan program funded by The Valley Foundation, this activity provided a very real sense of accomplishment and sharing during the holiday season.

Allie Keefe and her mom Sandy, Via West’s associate director, delivered the bags to Next Door, a non-profit agency that provides safety for battered women and their children through emergency shelter; multiple points of entry for victims; individuals, system and institutional advocacy; crisis intervention; education for victims and the community; and the changing of community norms through prevention activities. Staff members appreciated the thoughtful nature of the gifts, and snapped this photo of Allie.

 Happy Holidays to everyone from the Via West Campus and Via Services!!