As part of the October Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Beaman Home, the area's emergency shelter and outreach center for victims of domestic violence, is planning a bingo fundraiser Oct. 16 at the Center Lake Pavilion, Warsaw. This year's theme is “Light Up the Lives of Domestic Violence Victims.” Tickets for the event are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Ticket price includes bingo cards, a meal and a chance to win a door prize. To purchase advance tickets, call the Beaman Home at 574-267-7701 or purchase them from the receptionist at the K21 Health Services Pavilion, 1515 Provident Drive, Warsaw. Prizes have been donated by over 40 local businesses. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. with bingo beginning at 6:30 p.m. All proceeds from the bingo event will benefit the programs and services of the Beaman Home, which has served this community's domestic violence victims and their dependent children for nearly 30 years. Assisting with the fundraiser are members of Altrusa International of Warsaw, who established the Beaman Home in July 1985. The Beaman Home has operated 24 hours a day, seven days a week since that time and is currently conducting a campaign to build an expanded shelter and outreach center on North Parker Street. Remodeling of the existing building on that site is expected to begin in December. Shelter nights provided to victims staying in Beaman Home's emergency shelter during the past year totaled 2,562. The average stay is 24 days. In addition, 104 crisis calls were answered on their 877-725-9362 toll-free crisis line. Of the 1,059 victims served, 441 were women, 610 children and eight were men. Annually, the existing facility has provided advocacy services to over 1,000 domestic violence victims and nearly 25 percent of those assisted use the crisis hotline and the emergency shelter programs. In addition, this past year over 90 volunteers contributed more than 5,520 volunteer hours of service to the community's victims and their children through the shelter and programs.
