“Why didn’t you just leave?” is one of the most common questions people ask survivors of abusive relationships. Stevie Fellows, director of philanthropy and community engagement at Wellspring, a Saratoga-based nonprofit aimed at supporting survivors of relationship and sexual abuse, wishes people understood the answer is more complex than it seems.
“Leaving can be the most dangerous point in an abusive relationship,” Fellows says. “A survivor may be worried about their children, their pets, their finances, their housing, or what will happen if the person hurting them finds out they are trying to leave.”
Spreading awareness of the complexity of relationship abuse is exactly what Wellspring has strived to do for more than 40 years. The organization also provides free support services to those actively experiencing abuse. This can look like counseling, emergency shelter, safety planning, financial education, and legal advocacy, though the exact resources provided depend entirely on the person and their situation.
“We don’t tell people what to do,” Fellows explains. “We listen. We help them understand their options. Sometimes survivors just need someone to say, ‘I believe you. This is not your fault. You are not alone.’”
One former client described the impact Wellspring had on her and her daughters’ lives in a letter: “The resources, encouragement, and empathy Wellspring offered gave me the tools to rebuild my life and create a safer future for my daughters,” she wrote. “Wellspring’s work changes lives, and ours is one of them.”
Community support is critical to the life-changing services that Wellspring provides. This October, Relationship Abuse Awareness Month, Wellspring is inviting the community to get involved with its ONE Campaign, a month-long initiative inspired by the data that one in four women and one in seven men will be the victim of relationship violence. The good news? Just one person can make a difference in a survivor’s life.
Expect dine-to-donate nights at local restaurants, shopping events and collection drives at local businesses, special classes at gyms, and community events. Tune into Wellspring’s social media for ways you can get involved.
“Our hope,” Fellows says, “is that every event, every social media post, every conversation, and every person involved helps spread one important message: Wellspring is here.”
For more information on Wellspring and the ONE Campaign, visit wellspringcares.org.
