On February 7th, the Ion Center once again participated in the annual statewide initiative, Shop & Share. All donated items received at the event will be used to stock the pantry shelves of our two area shelters for individuals and families fleeing domestic violence. Community members were able to support Ion Center by visiting local Kroger stores to shop for what they needed and share an item(s) with the Ion Center. This year, Shop & Share raised $60,000 in support of Ion Center!
Shop & Share is championed by Kentucky’s First Lady, Britainy Beshear, and hosted in partnership with Kroger stores. Since the event began in 2008, generous shoppers have contributed more than $6 million in goods and monetary donations to support survivors of intimate partner violence and their children.
At the Ion Center, a survivor is never responsible for the cost of their healing. All services are free and confidential. Programs such as Shop & Share make it possible for agencies across the state, like the Ion Center, to provide these types of services to the people who need them most.
Christy Burch, Ion Center’s CEO, says, “I am so grateful to be part of a region that cares about people who are impacted by violence. We know we can measurably reduce the number of people hurt by violence, but we need everyone’s help. The importance of an event like Shop & Share cannot be overstated. It takes more than 150 volunteers to make this event possible, and this one day fills the shelves of our shelters’ pantries for the entire year, so we are able to focus on other things. It’s really a remarkable day.”
This year, Ion Center partnered with the Newport Car Barn for its drop-off location. After donations were picked up by volunteers from local Kroger stores, they were dropped off at the Newport Car Barn, where another team of volunteers sorted and boxed the items for delivery to our shelters. Christy Burch says, “the Newport Car Barn has been a wonderful partner to us for many years. Their support for this huge event exemplifies how business collaborations strengthen our community, and we are grateful for their continued partnership.”
Albert Fedders, owner of Fedders Construction and the Newport Car Barn, says, “Giving back is a core part of our mission at the Newport Car Barn. We’re grateful to have a space with the capacity to serve our community, and it’s incredibly meaningful to use it for good. Supporting Shop & Share allows us to open our doors in a way that truly matters by helping families and neighbors in need. We love to use our venue to bring community together and in today’s world it is nice to work together to truly make a difference in people’s lives.”
Thank you to all of our volunteers who made this day possible. Thanks also to our amazing community for shopping and sharing on February 7th! The power of your giving is incredible and will support so many survivors on their journey to safety! Thank you!
