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About Us

Sarah's Friends is a safe haven for those harmed by crime in Williams County.   All services are free and strictly confidential.

VISION

To ensure those victimized by crime in Williams County receive compassionate support and individualized services necessary to not feel alone in their journey of healing.  To put the power and control back into the victim's hands, allowing them to become an empowered survivor. 

MISSION

To empower victims of domestic violence and crime to heal emotionally, physically, and spiritually.

CORE

VALUES

Collaborative
Compassionate
Diverse & Inclusive
Empowering
Flexible
Trauma-Informed

Our History

Founded in April 1991, Sarah's Friends, Inc. provided a safe and comfortable place for child victims of abuse to be interviewed by law enforcement personnel and Child Protective Services (CPS).  These interviews were recorded so that the child only had to go through the difficult process of telling their story once. 

 

Over the years, the organization has gone through many changes.  By 1996, law enforcement and Job and Family Services changed protocols for child abuse investigations and decided the interviews were no longer to be conducted at Sarah's Friends.  In 1997 after some revision, Sarah's Friends officially stated, "It is our mission to address the problem of violence in Williams County through prevention, education, and intervention, and by assisting victims of crime." In 2013, our mission statement was revised to state, "To empower victims of domestic violence and crime to heal emotionally, physically, and spiritually."

 

Throughout the years, Sarah's Friends has provided various training and prevention efforts including training for law enforcement on family violence, evidence based programs for elementary students, and trainings for HR professionals on domestic violence in the workplace.  We have also provided support groups for children experiencing divorce, and another for adults who have gone through it as well.  Several support groups have been offered for women who have experienced relationship violence and mentoring programs have been offered as well.

 

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Most notable has  been our advocacy work for survivors of crime, most often those who experienced domestic violence.  These services include financial and material support as well as emotional.  We provide referrals for legal services, social services and counseling.  In 2001, we started a housing program that assisted individuals and families with rental deposits and short-term rental subsidy to help our clients, most often women and children escaping a dangerous living situation.  By 2010, this program grew when we started utilizing one of the apartments we own as Transitional Housing.  We have now expanded this frequently utilized service into four active units.

 Sarah’s Friends assists men, women, and children who are harmed by the following crimes:

 

  • Adults Molested as Children

  • Adult Physical Assault

  • Adult Sexual Assault

  • Arson

  • Burglary

  • Child Physical or Sexual Abuse/Assault

  • Child Pornography

  • Domestic Violence

  • DUI/DWI Incidents

  • Elder Abuse/Neglect

  • Hate Crime

  • Human Trafficking: Sex/Labor

  • Identity Theft

  • Kidnapping

  • Mass Violence

  • Other Vehicular Victimization

  • Robbery

  • Stalking

  • Survivors of Homicide Victims

  • Teen Dating Victimizations

  • Terrorism

  • Violation of a Court Order

Meet The Team

DIAMOND

MARION ISAAC FUND

WOOLACE ELECTRIC

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Pat Burkholder

Board Secretary

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Misty King

Board Member

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Mollie Culler

Board Member

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Becky Kimble

Board President

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Jamie Vonalt

Board Vice-President

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Natalie Smith

Board Treasurer

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Amy Boothman

Board Member

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Heather Mendez

Board Member

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Katie Shaffer

Executive Director

Interested in Joining Our Board? Apply Today!

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"This place has been the backbone of my support in all areas. Sarah's Friends is a True Blessing to me and my children!"

 

-Anonymous survivor

SARAH'S FRIENDS SUPPORTERS

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DIAMOND

MARION ISAAC FUND

WOOLACE ELECTRIC

platinum

BLACK SWAMP EQUIPMENT

NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL-HOWARD AREND

gold

AMY SMITH

ANDERSON & VREELAND, INC.

ANONYMOUS INDIVIDUALS (26)

BRYAN FORD LINCOLN

CRIME VICTIMS FUND

CURRENT OFFICE SOLUTIONS

DAVE & HEATHER REISER

F&M STATE BANK

FRATERNAL ORDER OF THE EAGLES #2233

GRIFF & NIKI MOSIER

IN HONOR OF SCOTT SMITH

MIDWEST COMMUNITY FED. CREDIT UNION

STARK'S PLUMBING & HEATING

THIEL CONSTRUCTION CO

silver

ABL ELECTRIC & INNOVATIONS, LLC

ALEX & NATALIE SMITH

ANDREW ELDER

ANDY & CHRISTINA KELLER FUND

AUSTIN BAILEY

BOB & BECKY KIMBLE

BRYAN DENTAL GROUP

BSE OWNERS (LARRY & KAREN BURKHOLDER / KYLE & STACY SAPP)

CHAD & JODI TINKEL

CHARLES NICHOLS

COPPER TOP LLC

CWU THRIFT SHOP

D&M TIRE & SERVICE CENTER

DESIREE DUNKLE

DRS. RANDY & DIANE PETERS

ELEANOR WEBB

ELLIANN'S BOUTIQUE/MAD OX

FIRST INSURANCE GROUP

FOUNTAIN CITY VETERINARY HOSPITAL

GEORGE & JULIE BROWN

KANNEL INSURANCE

KEVIN MCDOUGALL

NEWLYN QUEST CLUB

NORTH WESTERN ELECTRIC TRUST GRANT 2022

ROBERT YOUNG

RYAN & AMY MILLER

STATE BANK

UNIVERSAL INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS

bronze

ALICIA WITTENMYER

ALLISSA & BARBARA CRAMER

ANDY BRIGLE

ANONYMOUS (FEMININE CARE DRIVE)

ASHLEY MICHAEL

AUSTIN MARTIN

BILL & PAM STEEL

BJ & KELSEY MCDADE

BRITTANY COFFMAN

BRYAN FIRST ASSEMBLY CHURCH

CHAD HAVER

CHWC CARDIOLOGY STAFF

COLDWELL BANKER CLASSIC PROPERTIES

DAVID & NANCY SCHAIRBAUM

DEIA HUTCHINSON

DERRICK FRIEND

EVERGREEN HEALTHCARE CENTER

FRATERNAL ORDER OF THE EAGLES #2246

GREG ALLING

GREG SPANGLER

HAL KENETY

HELEN SEILER

IN MEMORY OF SANDRA ANDERSON

JACOB &TERI SCHLEGEL

JIM & KATHY FUNDERBURG

JUSTIN DESOTO

KILEY COFFMAN

KRYSTAL MILLER

LUKE COLLINS

MAIN STOP

MANN'S INVESTMENT GROUP, LLC

MARIE CAMPBELL

MATT & MISTY KING

MATT & SUZANNE BORTON

NATHEN HENRICKS

NETWORK FOR GOOD

NICKI COGSWELL

PAMELA LEDYARD

PAT BURKHOLDER

PENROD & GEORGE

PETERS FAMILY EYECARE

ROGER & TAMARA THORP

SHAWN & MARGIE STARK

SHAWN CANALES

STACY SAPP

STEVE KIMPEL

TASHA THOMPSON

THE CENTER FOR CHILD & FAMILY ADVOCACY

TITAN TIRE

TOM & ANGIE CRAMER

TONY & CAROLINE GRETICK

TRILOGY WEALTH ADVISORS

WESLEY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

WILLIAM & DEBORAH DAUGHERTY

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