Tulsa Domestic Abuse Shelter In Need This Holiday Season

Lacie Lowry, News On 6

TULSA, Oklahoma -- A warm blanket is sometimes the only possession a victim of domestic violence leaves with from an emergency shelter.

And Domestic Violence Intervention Services of Tulsa needs more blankets this holiday season as more victims ask for help.

Neile Jones-Batie knows how precious a blanket is for domestic violence victims. More than six years ago, the Tulsa native lived her own nightmare.

"It was hard because you are hiding and just trying to get through the day and even you don't realize the facade you are living until you step out of it," Jones-Batie said.

She wrote a book about her abuse to raise awareness and she's helping Domestic Violence Intervention Services, or DVIS, collect blankets for it's emergency shelter.

"When I left, I didn't have that blanket that had been so comforting and to get a new one with no bad memories tied to it and be able to take it with you is a good thing," Jones-batie said.

"Often times, they come in with just the clothes on their backs and a few necessities that they've gotten out of the house with and a blanket is one of the first things they really need," said Cristi Goettel, DVIS.

Last year, DVIS fielded more than 35,000 calls for help and their emergency shelter, which has 50 beds, operates at or above capacity.

Donations are used up quickly at the shelter, which serves women and children.

"We know it affects one in four women, so it happens to people in our community, people we know, people we see everyday" Goettel said.

For Jones-Batie it comes down to making the right choice.

"You can choose to stay in that if that's what you want to do, or you can choose to live a life without violence and let me tell you something, it's a lot nicer," Jones-Batie said.

You can drop donations at the DVIS headquarters, located at 43rd and Harvard.