South Suburban Family Shelter will offer area residents a chance to get outside and show their moves with its Dancing Away Domestic Violence fundraiser from 3 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, June 26.
The socially distanced dance party at Martin Square in downtown Homewood will feature Linda Mines from Dawn’s Dancin’ Deevas and Zumba with instructor Yvette Roberts. Participants will have a chance to learn new dance moves while supporting SSFS’s efforts to support domestic violence victims.
Kris Scott, SSFS development and communications director, said the dance party idea has been on the organization’s radar for some time.
“This event is was an idea of one of our longtime board members. She wanted to do this pre-COVID but we couldn’t make it happen,” Scott said. “Now that the world is slowly returning to normal, we thought, what a great way to bring the community out in a fun way and still social distance.”
Although COVID-19 infection rates have been dropping, the organization will require that participants wear masks.
“We are committed to keeping everyone safe,” Scott said.
Onsite registration will be available. Water will be provided to participants.
Money raised from the event will help support SSFS’s general operation costs, which is where the greatest need is, Scott said.
“The pandemic has affected our clients in many ways,” she said. “Some clients were not able to keep up with their counseling schedule and our demand for emergency shelter increased significantly.
“Fortunately, we are able to pivot and when possible, continue counseling with clients using telehealth platforms. Our staff remained committed and at the forefront during the darkest days of shelter in place. But we have made it work with the help of the community and our donors.”
Early registration will be open until June 1. Participants who register by then will have the option of purchasing an event T-shirt for $25 or the general admission of $15 without a T-shirt.
T-shirts will be available for pick-up during business hours at the administration office on Harwood, June 23-25.