12 Days Of Charitable Giving (2015): Women’s Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh

It’s the seventh day of my 12 Days of Charitable Giving. Readers have suggested deserving charities over the past few weeks and I’ll be posting one a day for – well, 12 days (I’m clever that way). Today’s charity is Women’s Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh (WC&S).

Women’s Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh provides assistance to women who are victims of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV, sometimes referred to as domestic violence).

By the numbers, domestic violence afflicts one in four American women and claims a life in the United States every six hours. Far more Americans, mostly women, have been killed in the last dozen years at the hands of their partners than in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Domestic violence touches many lives – including children. You can watch William Gay’s (Cornerback for the Pittsburgh Steelers) story here:

WC&S was founded in 1974 by Ellen Berliner and Anne Steytler as one of the first six shelters in the United States for battered women. Today, WC&S serves nearly 7,000 individuals each year. WC&S provides emergency shelter for women and children fleeing abusive relationships. The shelter is available 24 hours a day. Shelter services include basic needs (such as clothing, toiletry items, and meals) and specialized needs. Advocates provide intensive safety planning, emotional support, crisis intervention, and goal planning. The average length of stay is 30 days, with some residents staying up to 45 days.

WC&S also offers a legal advocacy program that provides free and confidential court accompaniment, support, information, and advocacy as the case progresses through the legal system. Victims may be able to obtain immediate, court-mandated protection through a civil Protection from Abuse (PFA) Order to stop the violent behavior and find out how to handle a PFA that is being ignored or violated. For more about legal services, including a Civil Law Project to fill existing gaps in free legal services available for domestic violence victims and to offer specialized domestic violence legal expertise, click here.

WC&S also offers counseling and therapy for women and families.

Finally, WC&S offers a 24-Hour Hotline at 412-687-8005 or toll-free, 877-338-TALK (8255) for help or more information. There are also available resources on the website.

So how can you help?

To make a one-time donation via credit card, you can click over to the website. To make a contribution by phone or mail, please call 412-687-8017 ext. 337 or mail your check to:

Women’s Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh
P.O. Box 9024
Pittsburgh, PA 15224

You can also make a bequest by will or revocable trust. Bequests may be designated either as unrestricted (meaning that WC&S can use the funds as they see fit) or restricted (you designate a specific purpose). A bequest does not result in an immediate charitable deduction but may qualify as a charitable donation for federal estate & gift tax and for income tax purposes in the future, depending on the design. For more information about bequests, contact WC&S.

WC&S also accepts new, non-cash donations. You can see the entire wish list here, which includes:

Gift Cards (Target, Walmart, Visa gift cards, etc.)
New Towels (Bath and Kitchen)
New Pajamas or Robes (for women and children)
New Slippers (for women and children)

You can also volunteer your services. Remember, for federal income tax purposes, you can’t deduct your time for volunteer services (even if you can measure and/or value your time) but you may be able to deduct out-of-pocket costs, including mileage.

WC&S offers alternative ways to give including support through Amazon Smile and an eStore. Remember that funds that are raised through third-party services are generally not eligible to be claimed as charitable deductions on your federal income tax return (but are still welcome).

As always, you want to make sure that your donation is going to a qualified charitable organization. A search using the IRS’ Exempt Organizations Select Check reveals that WC&S is on the list. Additionally, their ranking on Charity Navigator is four stars (Charity Navigator is a great resource for finding out more about an organization, including how they spend their donated dollars).

To find out more about WC&S, check out their website or like them on Facebook or follow them on Twitter.

Remember: submissions to the 12 Days of Charitable Giving are made by readers and in most cases, I can’t personally vouch for the good work that these folks do. So be generous. But be smart. Do your homework.

For more on making charitable donations, check out this post.

For other charities in the series: