Andrew Martins, Managing Editor
One year after opening its studio location in Hillsborough, an artistically-inclined small business is aiming to give back to the community by partnering up with a local non-profit organization aimed at getting domestic abuse survivors back on their feet.
Scrap U, founded by Hillsborough native Tina Rear, is using canvas, paint, multi-media and even rocks in an effort to brighten up the days of the women and their children that go to Safe+Sound Somerset for physical, mental and emotional support.
Safe+Sound Somerset is a non-profit organization whose goal is to “empower survivors of domestic abuse and engage the community to break the cycle of violence,” according to the group’s website.
Rear said she initially became involved with Safe+Sound after taking a course with the organization. After learning what the non-profit’s mission was and how important it was to women from around the area, she said she knew she wanted to help out.
“This is something that I am very passionate about – helping women and children and people who are in abusive relationships of any kind,” Rear said. “I think it often goes unnoticed, especially for teens – they don’t realize they’re in an abusive relationship.”
According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV), approximately 10 million people are physically abused by an intimate partner every year. That roughly translates to nearly 20 men and women a minute.
In New Jersey, a study by NCADV showed that “children were involved or present during 29 percent of all domestic violence offenses.” In addition, “wives were the victims in 16 percent (10,829) and ex-wives were the victims in three percent (2,187) of the
reported domestic violence offenses…Overall, females were victims in 75 percent (48,697) of all domestic violence offenses.”
To help combat the impact those experiences have on victims, Rear said she has devoted part of her full-service craft studio to raise funds and provide an outlet for those affected.
Last January, the fledgling studio held a scrapbooking fundraiser event, that ultimately raised $500 for the shelter. Since then, Rear said she has raised and donated a number of times, with more intentions in the future to further support Safe+Sound financially.
“We’re setting our goal for this year at $5,000, but more than the money, we donate our time and supplies – especially for those in and out of the safe house,” Rear said. “I think art is a great therapeutic tool that can help anyone grow and feel good even if it’s for a short period of time.”
To that end, Rear said she helps the women and children living at the non-profit’s safe house decorate for seasonal holidays and gives them an opportunity to express themselves creatively.
Most recently, Scrap U held a special Hillsborough Rocks rock painting event to help build a serenity garden of rocks at the non-profit organization’s outreach building off of Raider Boulevard.
“We’re building that for all of the patients and clients that come in and out for outpatient programs,” she said. “They’ll be able to take a rock, hide that rock and participate without having to go too far.”
Though she said she is currently planning another fundraising event where the goal was to raise $2,500, Rear reiterated that it wasn’t just about the money – it was about raising awareness.
“Hopefully if someone finds out about Safe+Sound or maybe a teen is in an abusive relationship, that they will then seek out any additional support or the help that they need,” Rear said.
If you or someone you know is in an abusive relationship, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233. You can also reach Safe+Sound Somerset at 1-866-685-1122.
