2024 Back to School
Did you know that over half of the 136 beds in Women In Distress’ emergency shelter are occupied by children?
From babies to high schoolers, serving the smallest survivors of domestic violence is one of the most critical parts of our mission! The Joanne DeLizza Memorial Back to School Drive helps ensure that for our school-aged children, supplies and materials are available for them to start the school year just like any other student. Did you know that Broward County families spent an average of nearly $900 on back-to-school supplies, including clothing and accessories last year? This cost puts a strain on “normal” households – image what it’s like for someone living in an emergency shelter. For children of domestic violence abuse, having supplies for school helps them to hold on to one constant in their lives when everything around them is changing.
Our kids must be prepared and ready for the new school year. Here’s how to give them the school supplies they require:
- Shop for new school supplies and gift cards and drop off between July 30th and August 3rd. To view our school supply list, please click here.
- Schedule your drop off email jmetcalf@womenindistress.org
Drop off to: Women In Distress Thrift Store, 1372 North State Rd., Margate 33063 (between Copans Rd.& Coconut Creek Pkwy.)
Or drop off to: Jim and Jan Moran Family Center,4700 NW 3rd Ave., Pompano - Organize a Back-to-School Donation Drive
- Shop our Amazon® Wish List… CLICK HERE
- Make a secure online monetary donation… please CLICK HERE
- Make a donation by mail… Please send check made payable to Women In Distress of Broward County, Inc. to Women In Distress, PO Box 50187, Lighthouse Point, FL 33064.
We are honored to name our Annual Back-to-School Drive In Honor of Joanne DeLizza. Joanne devoted her life to the service of others, making a lasting impact in many different ways. With a background as a pharmacist from the University of Florida, Gainesville, she initially found purpose in healing through medicine. However, it was her role as a yoga teacher that truly exemplified her compassionate and soulful nature. A moment of great pride for her was achieving the special title of E-RYT-500, which meant she was an Experienced Yoga instructor after teaching for over 1000 hours. She was an amazingly helpful and kind person who would go out of her way to respond to any request she heard, felt, or perceived. Joanne became an enthusiastic supporter of the mission of Women In Distress after Board of Trustee Lois Herman introduced her to the agency. Joanne’s commitment to the mission of stopping domestic violence for everyone through intervention, education and advocacy was so profound that she directed a major gift to Women In Distress in her estate plan.
