Valley Crisis in Merced gets $10,000 donation

The owners of a nursing center in Atwater last week gave $10,000 on behalf of their employees to the Valley Crisis Center, which advocates for the victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.

Anberry Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, a 99-bed facility specializing in short-term inpatient and long-term care, provided the donation, which was the largest one-time gift to the local crisis center in recent memory, staff said.

“Community support helps us keep our doors open, and these are our community members we’re serving,” said Meghan Kehoe, the program director for Valley Crisis. “Having their support means a lot not just to us, but to the people coming through each day needing help.”

Kehoe said Valley Crisis appreciates donations of any size, but seeing such a large check on Dec. 9 brought tears to her eyes.

The money will be used primarily for the Valley Crisis shelter, Kehoe said, because the number of people looking for assistance always spikes after Thanksgiving. “Around the holiday season, we are just booked,” she said.

Kathy Brown, the activities director for Anberry, said its staff raises money throughout the year for a number of local nonprofits. So to say thanks to their staff, Anberry owners Don Gormly and Jerry Holloway made an extra large donation on behalf of employees, Brown said. “They’re very generous,” she said. “They’re wonderful people to work for.”

This year, some high-profile domestic abuse and sexual assault cases made national headlines, noted Anberry Administrator Mike Ramstead. He hopes the Anberry donation will spur others in the community to think about donating to Valley Crisis.

“The Valley Crisis Center and domestic abuse is something that’s been a cause that our owners have been involved in for many years,” he said. “This year’s donation just kind of continues that support.”

The Merced-based Valley Crisis Center has advocates and offices in Merced, Los Banos and at UC Merced. The center helps about 1,600 people in an average year and offers help in several languages.

For more on the Valley Crisis Center, go to www.valleycrisiscenter.org. The center also offers a 24-hour crisis hot line at (209) 722-4357.

This story was originally published December 15, 2014 at 7:52 PM with the headline "Valley Crisis in Merced gets $10,000 donation."