Auburn festival to raise funds for Domestic Violence Center

Two days of music are coming to Auburn’s Kiesel Park this Saturday and Sunday to help raise funds for an area Domestic Violence Intervention Center.

Everyone is invited to the park for two days of family fun, food and some of the region’s best music at the third annual “No Excuse” Music Festival from noon to sundown Saturday and 2 p.m. to sundown Sunday.

“We are doing this to bring awareness to the issue of domestic violence as well as raise funds for victims of domestic violence,” said Lisa Jackson-Stephens, the center’s executive director.

Jackson-Stephens said she wants everyone to come out and enjoy themselves, but points out that this isn’t just a fundraiser.

“We also hold this event to help more people know about the problem of domestic violence and about the services we offer our community,” she said.

The executive director said the center was able to assist 107 women and children as residents in the Safehouse, the center’s emergency shelter, in 2009. The center also handled 357 crisis calls during the same year.

Saturday’s lineup includes rock, blues, folk and jazz music with local favorites: Martha’s Trouble, Dooley Blues Revue, Left Hand Groove, Red House Revival, Ernest Goes to Jazz and My Brother’s Van.

Sunday’s gospel music features The Anointed Hinds Sisters, The Jesus Squad, The Noisy Deirdre String Band and other local gospel choirs, soloists and rappers.

Food, snacks and soft drinks will be sold for picnickers, and there will also be a limited number of high-quality craft vendors on site for shoppers.

Tickets are $10 ($5 for students) at the park for each day, with all proceeds going to the Domestic Violence Intervention Center and the Safehouse.

The Domestic Violence Intervention Center operates the only shelter for domestic violence victims in Lee, Macon, Chambers, Randolph and Tallapoosa counties, and provides counseling, advisory and advocacy services to victims and their children.

DVIC also provides a number of outreach, educational and prevention services in the community.

For more information, call 334-749-1515, or visit the center’s website at www.dvic1.org.

Contact: Lisa Jackson-Stephens

Operation days, hours:  office: M - F 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. / 24-hour hotline

Purpose: Temporary emergency shelter for battered spouses and their children. Confidential location counseling and referrals.

Services provided: Shelter/ Counseling/ Violence Prevention programs

Eligibility Requirements: Victim of domestic violence

Waiting List: No

Preferred referral procedure: Phone

Fees: None

Transportation provided: Yes

Areas served: Lee, Macon, Tallapoosa, Randolph, Chambers counties

Domestic Violence Intervention Center

P.O. Box 2183

Opelika, AL  36803-2183

Phone: (800) 650-6522

(334) 749-1515

Website: www.dvic1.org

For all Alabama shelters: www.acadv.org