Get Involved

In a perfect world, the word “family” would invoke images of happiness seen in TV shows such as Leave it to Beaver and The Cosby Show. In a perfect world, violence would merely be a fictionalized form of entertainment at the local movie theater, something that doesn’t happen in the real world. In a perfect world, everybody would be safe and happy.

But the sad reality is that every day many Sacramento-area women and children become victims of physical, mental and sexual abuse in their own homes, a fact that has one local group currently looking for volunteers in order to give these people someplace to turn.

Women Escaping a Violent Environment (WEAVE), an organization dedicated to providing support services for families hurt by violence or abuse, will hold an orientation session Oct. 11 for people interested in volunteer positions, said Director of Community Outreach Shireen Miles. Volunteers can be trained to work on WEAVE’s 24-hour crisis line, which takes approximately 20,000 calls a year, as well as other positions, such as working with children at the shelter, Miles said.

Volunteering would not only lend a helping hand to someone in need, but it also provides great training for those in careers such as the medical profession, law enforcement, and others that deal with public service, Miles said.

“The biggest thing they would get volunteering with WEAVE would be a terrific training experience,” Miles said.

Volunteers would be required to complete four hours of service a week, Miles said. For more information, call 448-2321, Ext. 114.

Meet the mayoral candidates

Still not sure how to mark that ballot after reading our cover story on Sacramento’s mayoral race? Well, maybe it’s time you heard from the candidates themselves in order to ease your decision.

Both candidates will appear separately at a forum for residents of the Land Park, Greenhaven and Pocket communities at the Belle Cooledge Library in Sacramento, where they will speak for approximately 30 minutes and answer questions from the audience. Heather Fargo will appear Monday, Oct. 9, from 6-7:30 p.m., and Rob Kerth will appear the following Monday at the same time.

The forum, which is being sponsored by the Belle Cooledge Affiliate of the Friends of the Sacramento Public Library, is being held so people in the community can have a chance to meet the candidates face-to-face, explained Friends board member Dorien Leigh Sarles.

“I thought this would be a good opportunity for the people in the community to come and listen,” Sarles said.

Speaking of the election … those who would like to stand up and be heard on the many important issues on the ballot this November need to get out and register by the Oct. 10 deadline. Do it for your family. Do it for your country. Heck, do it for the fun of it.