Shower for Shelters

For the 11th year, the Sudbury-Wayland-Lincoln Domestic Violence Roundtable will hold the virtual Shower for Shelters from Saturday, April 23 through Sunday, May 8. Dropoff locations are the libraries in Sudbury, Wayland and Lincoln.

Women leaving an abusive relationship arrive at shelters typically with no money, nowhere to live and just the clothes on their backs. They lack life's basic necessities and ofter must provide for their children and pets. It is important that the families in shelter realize they do have the care and support  of the community because they are taking the steps to rebuild their lives free of abuse. Providing the items that women and children desperately need sends a powerful message of caring.

The Roundtable is made up of people from the local community and was founded in 1999. The Roundtable promotes awareness of domestic violence while providing support to victims through community education and networking and to improve the coordination between public and private services for victims and families touched by domestic violence. Some of the activities of the Roundtable include cable TV programs, "A Circle of Caring Vigil," violence prevention programs in local schools, donations to REACH, the Second Step, and Voices Against Violence, library displays, production of educational materials, and, most importantly, the placement of hot line cards and numbers for services available for victims in as many public restrooms in the three towns as possible. More information about the Roundtable may be found by clicking here.

Each library has a complete list of the items needed. Some of the items include diapers, household cleaners, sheets, blankets, baby shower items, personal items, flatware, plates, glasses, and towels, to name a few.

For those who would rather make a monetary donation, gift cards to CVS, , Hannaford's, and Stop and Shop are preferred. The Roundtable requests all items are new. Donations can be left at, the Wayland library (5 Concord Road), and the Lincoln library (3 Bedford Road). If you need further information, call Marilyn Ellsworth at 978-443-5752, or Karen Cohen at 978-779-2226.

The Roundtable meets the second Tuesday of the month at the Wayland Public Safety Building at 3 p.m. New members are always welcome.