HUGS is a club dedicated to raising money and awareness for domestic abuse survivors. This organization has been supporting abuse survivors since 1998 and Oliver Ames’s club helps to donate money to this program. This year, they are donating through selling their $10 calendars to members of the community.
While this organization is known throughout the nation, what exactly is the mission of HUGS here at Oliver Ames? President of HUGS, Jackie Verde, says that the goal of the club is to provide support and awareness for domestic abuse victims.
“Our club aims to raise more awareness and money for the organization in Easton. We also provide financial and mental support to those who struggle or have struggled with domestic abuse in Easton” Verde says.
There are many ways that nonprofits can choose to raise money. Sia Papoutsis, a member of OA’s HUGS, says that calendars are a functional way of raising money that goes directly to the HUGS organization.
“Calendars are a really great way of raising a lot of money in a short amount of time. Selling each calendar for $10 for even only ten people can raise $200 and this money can go directly to the HUGS organization” Papoutsis says.
HUGS is a great opportunity for students at Oliver Ames to become more involved in the community. Domestic abuse has a history of not being recognized as the serious issue it is.
“I’ve been doing work for the organization since I was born, my mom has been in it for 30 years. I’ve always been interested in this issue especially because it is not addressed enough today, so it’s up to smaller organizations to raise awareness” Verde says.
There are fundraisers everywhere at all times, but why should OA students choose to buy a calendar from HUGS? Donating represents who we are as a community and these funds go directly to helping survivors here in our community.
“It takes a lot of time and effort to prepare these fundraisers and HUGS is entirely non-profit, giving all their funds directly to the organization here in Easton. This allows them to continue to support families and represent who we are as a school” Papoutsis says.
While this organization is known for its support for domestic abuse victims, where does the raised money actually go? HUGS are very particular about where the money goes to ensure that the people affected get the help they need.
“A lot of non profits have been struggling recently, so our donations to Easton’s HUGS organization really helps. The money goes directly to support such as purchasing hotels for those who need immediate escape from unsafe situations, groceries, or security cameras. The money is used to give these resources to those who cannot afford them” Verde says.
