Our Mission:

To protect, serve, and empower domestic violence victims and their children.

Our Strengths:

Our staff is knowledgeable, kind, and resourceful. They go above and beyond to help the families heal and stabilize their lives so they can move forward.

What makes your business unique?

What makes Circle of Love unique is the dual nature of our services as both an emergency 24/7 shelter and a comprehensive resource center for domestic violence victims.

As part of the national crisis hotline, we provide emergency shelter to families fleeing abusive situations from across the country. To better serve the growing number of those needing assistance, we plan to build a new Family Wing. The new wing will house an open concept kitchen, living room, laundry, and playroom where families can gather, communicate, and heal together as 75% of our residents are children fleeing domestic violence with their mothers. We’ll also host empowering services like parenting classes and counseling there.

The Family Wing will allow us to convert our current kitchen into a dedicated Teen Center – a safe space for teens to unwind and connect. We feel fortunate to provide round-the-clock shelter and resources to help abuse victims, often the only support system they have, to rebuild lives free of violence.

At the same time, we offer localized resources like assistance with protective orders, safety planning, support groups and collaborating with other agencies. Very few organizations provide such comprehensive crisis intervention paired with longer-term advocacy and education programs. This combination makes our services for domestic violence victims truly unique.

What is/are your proudest moment(s)?

Winning the 2022 Purple Ribbon Award for Shelter/Program of the Year from DomesticShelters.org was an incredible honor for Circle of Love. As one of the first comprehensive domestic violence awards programs in the country, the Purple Ribbon Awards recognize the best of the best making a substantial positive impact for victims and survivors. This acknowledgement of our vital work providing emergency shelter and resources for domestic violence victims across multiple counties is a proud moment for our team. We feel grateful to be national honorees and to stand with domestic violence heroes across the U.S. and Canada working compassionately to create change.

In addition, I was proud to receive the 2022 W. Lee Arrendale Award for Vocational Excellence from the Rotary Club of Greene and Putnam Counties as a result of leading the Circle of Love Center to better serve domestic violence victims.

In October 2021, I was honored to receive the Hice Headliner Award by Congressman Jody Hice, recognizing my leadership and impact as executive director of the Circle of Love Center. Congressman Hice highlighted how in just two-and-a-half years, I added new staff, secured grants, and led projects enhancing our facility with spaces to heal and encourage healthy activities. He emphasized I never stop planning for the future to improve life for domestic violence victims we serve. It was an immense honor to be acknowledged as a leader driven by this purpose.

Guiding the growth of Circle of Love and earning honors like the 2022 Purple Ribbon Award for Shelter/Program of the Year, 2022 W. Lee Arrendale Award for Vocational Excellence from the Rotary Club of Greene and Putnam Counties, and the 2021 Hice Headliner Award for making a difference have been incredibly fulfilling. However, seeing the impact of our work in helping families heal and rebuild lives will always be the greatest reward. I feel privileged to apply my talents to empower others who have suffered unimaginable pain and trauma. It is the moments when we can restore hope that make all the effort truly meaningful. As I reflect on these achievements, I am thankful most of all for the opportunity to be part of such vital and lifesaving work.

Tell about the non-business side of “you” (family, pets, hobbies, die-hard-fan, favorite music or food, dreams, etc. – whatever you choose!!).

As a busy mother of four, I find joy in tapping into my creative side during any spare time I can find. I love live music, walking, hosting friends and family, and cooking up new recipes in the kitchen – I even run a blog, “Magnolias and Meltdowns,” to share my food and family adventures. Spending quality time with family and friends is my ultimate creative outlet. Those special moments of togetherness mean the world to me.