According to the latest data from the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, nearly 1 in 2 women and more than 2 in 5 men in the United States have experienced intimate partner violence in their lifetime. This includes a range of abusive behaviors such as slapping, shoving, and pushing. Alarmingly, 1 in 4 men and nearly half of all women have endured severe physical violence or contact sexual violence from an intimate partner.

Children, often the silent witnesses to these traumatic events, are deeply affected. When families flee abusive environments, they frequently leave behind all possessions, seeking only safety and shelter.

To help ease this difficult transition, Bay Area Service Teens launched Project Snuggle — an initiative that provides soft, comforting fleece blankets to children and families entering shelters.

After the membership meeting in September, members set to work creating these blankets for the children at both the Bay Area Turning Point and The Bridge Over Troubled Waters, Inc.