Jennifer Fox, John Schmahl and Janet Farnan-Dyer. PHOTO BY JOSHUA KODIS

Tables in a private room at Trattoria Dario were once again overflowing with unwrapped gifts for children and women, as well as some nonperishable foodstuffs, at the 17th annual Toy Drive and Food Drive, hosted by Trish Hickey-Jones, of the online boutique Blondie’s Fashions and Frills.

The gifts were being donated to SafeSpace, which offers programs, services and safe shelter to victims of domestic violence. Women arrive at the shelters frightened and battered, often with their equally terrified little ones, so Hickey-Jones created the event to make their holidays a little brighter.

“We’ve got a Santa Shop where we put all these toys. It’s in Port St. Lucie because it’s the middle spot,” said Jennifer Fox, SafeSpace CEO, explaining that they serve hundreds of individuals and their children, in Indian River, Martin and St. Lucie counties.

“And because SafeSpace uses an empowerment model, we want our participants to have as much control and power over the things that they do as we can. So we’re trying to offer them the ability to kind of go shopping for their children for Christmas,” said Fox.

Once the items are sorted out, the mothers choose the gifts they think their children would like, and wrapping supplies are available, so that the presents are all ready to put under the tree.

“It’ll be really nice to have presents for the kids and for the participants themselves,” said Fox.

Having come on board in July, Fox was impressed by the outpouring of support, adding that while there are some groups that help out, Hickey-Jones is one of the few who hosts such a large undertaking.

Fox said they are always in need of personal hygiene items, as well as safety items such as door jammers, camera doorbells, window alarms, and the like.

“We don’t need a lot of clothing; that just comes pouring in,” she said. “One thing that we seem to always get asked for is bicycles, but food is always helpful this time of the year as well; canned items, of course.”

SafeSpace currently has shelters in Stewart and Vero Beach, as well as outreach offices, mostly in St. Lucie, where workers can meet with participants. In Vero Beach, there is also an office in the United Against Poverty UP Center.

“I think the thing about this is it’s a really great way for us to be able to build awareness about the program itself. Because it’s Christmas, and because people try to do things like give donations of toys, this is also a great time for us to be able to say, we are here, we’re available for people that are going through this type of abuse,” said Fox.

“So really, just trying to get the word out that we exist and that we’re available.”

In addition to providing emergency shelter and advocating on behalf of victims, SafeSpace offers intervention, including a 24-hour hotline, and comprehensive prevention programs, including talking at schools about healthy relationships and parenting. And their legal services include assistance with injunctions and court appearances.

For more information, visit SafeSpaceFl.org.

Photos by Joshua Kodis