Vivid Visions

LIVE OAK — So far this year, Vivid Visions has sheltered 56 women and 58 children who were victims of domestic violence. They have answered 3,223 hotline calls and served 437 individuals with outreach programs, 251 of whom were children.

The agency that provides shelter and resources to victims of domestic violence is in desperate need of private funding and is reaching out to the community it serves for help.

Vivid Visions created its critical need campaign called #1,000VoicesStrongAgainstDomesticViolence to reach a goal of $100,000 by the beginning of May. If 1,000 business or people donate $100 to support children and women, that goal can be reach to keep the doors open and the shelters available, said Kathy White, executive director.

“We will receive money from United Way in September, but we need funding to keep the doors open until then,” White said.

She said the biggest problem the non-profit has is that the grants it receives are all reimbursement grants. That means the agency has to have money, in the form of cash, to spend up front for them to be reimbursed by the grant.

“We just don’t have any cash on hand,” White said. “And if we don’t get something soon, there will be mothers with babies on the street.”

These victims have no where else to go, she said. Domestic violence is a real problem in Suwannee County, with reported cases increasing 50 percent last year.

Visions will accept contributions in the form of cash, checks and credit cards. Checks should be payable to Vivid Visions, Inc. or hand delivered to 506 Ohio Ave, Live Oak.

Fabray Smith-Wiggins, victim-witness administrator for the State Attorney’s Office, said she heavily relies on Vivid Visions. She makes referrals to Visions all the time, she said, and without the agency, Wiggins doesn’t know what she would do.

“They don’t just provide them with shelter. They help them through the whole process,” Wiggins said. “They help them with court representation, food, clothing and relocation. It would make a huge impact on the county.”

Wiggins said that some businesses have already contributed from around the city and county, but not nearly enough. Most of the money they have raised came from other communities. Wiggins said that her 13-year-old daughter overheard her trying to get people to donate and offered her own money to help.

“My 13-year-old daughter has the heart to give. Why can’t anyone else?” Wiggins asked.