NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE

Hours: 24/7. Languages: English, Spanish and 200+ through interpretation service

800-799-7233

SMS: Text START to 88788

Presbyterian Advocacy Coalition Report on 2025

by Caroline McKuen

The Presbyterian Advocacy Coalition began the process of formal organization in January 2025. It has been a wild ride! Domestic violence work is largely confidential, so we have not been able to post many of the photos and stories of our work in real time. However, as we enter our second year of existence as a non-profit, we would like to share some statistics on what we have been doing in 2025:

- Provided support for more than thirty women and men regarding domestic violence situations

- Provided support and assistance regarding five ecclesiastical trials and several other potential ecclesiastical charges

- Provided assistance for two victims of domestic violence to make police reports

- Provided heating assistance for one victim of domestic violence who was without heating fuel in winter

- Provided assistance for two victims of domestic violence to leave situations of immediate danger

- Provided long-term shelter for one woman with young children, including assistance fleeing an active abuse situation, filing a protection order and custody papers, and obtaining free legal representation.

We thank the Lord for the work He has given us, but we are also a little overwhelmed! Please keep us in prayer and consider financial support as we go into the next year. Here are our immediate needs:

- More shelter. We have a property available to us, and it has an apartment in which we are currently housing domestic violence victims until they are able to stabilize their lives and find housing. However, the need vastly outstrips one apartment. We would love to be able to convert another large building on the property into apartments so that we can expand this ministry. Please pray for wisdom as we begin to look into options.

- Volunteer training. We have numerous volunteers offering assistance, but we have been so busy that we have not adequately responded to the outpouring of offers of assistance. In the next year, we hope to develop a volunteer training program.

- Funds for victim assistance and staff support. Currently, the PAC runs entirely on volunteer work, which means all of our staff hold other jobs and often struggle to find time to devote to PAC work. The unwavering devotion of these volunteers has made many outreach efforts still possible, but we desperately need to be able to hire at least one or two full-time staff. We would also like to set up a fund for shelter, food, and gas assistance for victims of domestic violence who are in unsafe situations.

To those who have supported us, financially and in prayer, THANK YOU! There are women and children safe today because of you and your generous support.

To the pastors and elders who referred domestic violence victims to us and worked hard to provide safety to those in their care, THANK YOU! You are all that is best in the OPC and PCA.

As we go forward to our second year, our hotline remains open to those who need assistance. But our ability to provide help depends every day on donations and assistance from others. Please continue to support our work as the Lord enables you to do so.

Thank you all so much!

MAKE A DIFFERENCE TODAY!

The Presbyterian Advocacy Coalition provides all victim services at no cost to abuse survivors. Therefore we depend on donations to continue our work.

Donations may be sent via debit/credit by clicking on the donations button.

Or mail your donation to:

Presbyterian Advocacy Coalition
PO Box 502
Union, ME 04862

The Presbyterian Advocacy Coalition is a 501c3 nonprofit.