Page 70 - LIN_January_2023_web_version-r

Re-EmpoweringWomen

Lee Kraus, Donna Messer, Linda Oberhaus, Jalna MacLaren

SERVING NAPLES FOR OVER 90 YEARS.

The Naples Woman’s Club and its
Empowering Women Committee are
dedicated to helping with this mission.
by Stacy Vermylen, President
s I listened to the staff at the Shelter when her situation became
her story, frightening. Her husband crossed way too many
A I could not help boundaries, hurting her, and controlling her life. As
think about how strong, Linda said, “Our job is to empower women to rediscover
how brave she was. Alina who they were before the abuse occurred: intelligent, capable
Donahue, a young, hometown Naples, people who have forgotten or don’t believe that they are any of
college-aged woman got caught up in the web those things.” Christy is now a national speaker on the realities of
of a boyfriend turned trafficker, who abused her for years. domestic abuse and how women can rise above it.
How did she survive? Linda Oberhaus, who addressed a group of over 100 women
How could she build herself back up? at the Naples Woman’s Club’s Empowering Women Scholarship
Thankfully, after years of hiding the facts of her tragic luncheon in November, stressed that trained staff are available at
experience, Alina met Linda Oberhaus, CEO of the Shelter for the Shelter to provide emotional and psychological counseling.
Abused Women & Children. It was a chance meeting, said Alina, They focus on giving a “hand up”, not a “hand out” to the
“but something about Linda made me open up for the first time.” survivors. Linda was recently named the president of the Florida
Together, they developed a plan to help Alina regain her sense of Partnership to End Domestic Violence whose mission is to
self-worth and the strength to move on, using proven restorative promote safe families and communities through empowerment-
methods of empowerment to renew herself, instead of being based advocacy, providing technical assistance to centers and
defined by her experience. Today Alina is happily married and has providers, and engaging in systems and social change.
two wonderful children. She has been successful in separating the The Naples Woman’s Club and its Empowering Women
past from her future. Committee are dedicated to helping with this mission. Programs
The Shelter, which services both women who have experienced include awarding scholarships for mature women to improve
domestic abuse as well as those who have been trafficking victims, their abilities to earn a living and providing women at the Shelter
uses a strategy to help women help themselves, rather than with simple self-esteem building events, toiletries, and holiday
making decisions for them. By providing immediate care and gifts. “After years of being told they were fat or stupid or ugly by
shelter, plus providing any needed trauma therapy, the Shelter staff abusers, even these small things can help,” said Linda.
uses techniques to aid victims in choosing their own paths, when The Naples Woman’s Club, serving Naples for over 90 years, is a
often they had been so dominated by others. Assistance includes nonprofit organization dedicated to service and philanthropy.
finding safe housing, a job and additional career training (of their For information and the many events sponsored by the Club, go to
choice), boosting their self-esteem by improving their appearance, https://napleswomansclub.org.
or just plain listening. The Shelter for Abused Women and Children can be contacted at
The goal is to have a survivor find her own path to recovery https://naplesshelter.org and their crisis hotline is 239-775-1101.
and own it. Another inspiring example of this approach is
Christy Carpenter, who had a promising life as a wife and mother
derailed by an abusive husband. She, too, sought assistance from

70 Life in Naples | January 2023