Sara's Hope of NWA Holds Annual Gala

Vickie Thomas strives to provide free counseling for survivors of domestic violence through the organization she founded, Sara’s Hope of NWA.
Vickie Thomas strives to provide free counseling for survivors of domestic violence through the organization she founded, Sara’s Hope of NWA.

Sara's Hope of NWA will hold its annual gala from 6 to 9 p.m. Aug. 27 at the Double Tree Hotel in Bentonville.

The third annual gala's theme is "Give Them Wings: Summer Nights in the '50s and '60s." Guests will hear from speakers including Alberto Dominguez, Wal-Mart senior vice president divisional merchandise manager and a former prosecuting attorney; Judge Paul Bridges; and Rebecca Powers, a Bentonville School Board member.

Sara’s Hope of NWA ‘Give Them Wings’ gala

What: Summer Nights of the ’50s and ’60s

When: 6-9 p.m. Aug. 27

Where: Double Tree Hotel, Bentonville

Tickets: $50 each or $400 for a table of 10

Attire:

Information: sarashopeofnwa.org

Founder Vickie Thomas has a personal reason for starting the group, which plans to offer free counseling services to domestic violence survivors. A survivor of domestic violence herself, Thomas said she has a unique understanding of how difficult it can be to seek help.

"A lot of people who are victims of abuse won't deal with it," she said. "They won't talk about it. It took me 20 years to go for counseling, so I understand how they can be very apprehensive and fearful of talking about it.

"I moved here from Wichita and was volunteering for the Bentonville Women's Shelter," she continued. "I thought counseling [for domestic violence survivors] was direly needed. When I retired six years ago, I had it rise up in me that this was one of the things that I needed to do."

Sara's Hope of NWA was organized three years ago, and Thomas said its first agency opened in July.

"We have been very blessed with a building in Centerton that was donated to us," she said. "Everything in that building has been donated -- from furniture to kitchen goods ... phones, computers, everything. The outpouring of the community has been amazing."

The next step, Thomas said, is to find qualified counselors who are interested in volunteering their time. She is hopeful that, in time, the center will be a place survivors can turn to find resources, advocacy and counseling.

-- LARA HIGHTOWER

[email protected]

NAN Our Town on 08/18/2016

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