Faith-based retreat helps women facing domestic abuse
Name of program: Cookie’s Retreat
What it does: Kim Bryan, the executive director of the program, said the organization is a faith-based residential healing retreat for women and children in a domestic violence crisis.
It originally was started by the Seventh-day Adventist Church, but now it serves women and children of all faiths.
The program provides individual counseling sessions and life skills classes. Usually the guests stay for two months, although exceptions have been made.
Once, a pregnant woman stayed for six month while she was awaiting the birth of her child.
Who runs it: The retreat runs itself and is also affiliated with the Washington State Domestic Violence Consortium, the Spokane County Domestic Violence Consortium, and Polly’s Place Network International Ministries. It does not take any state funds in order to maintain its faith-based status.
How to get help: Women in unhealthy situations can call the retreat’s crisis line at 624-6333. Domestic violence victims also can be referred by pastors of different faiths and physicians.
“This is our fourth year, and more agencies are aware of us,” Bryan said.
Typical client: The retreat serves women and children and has had guests from ages 18 to 84, according to Bryan. The average woman is in her 20s and early 30s.
Bryan stressed that many people have the impression that abused women are uneducated and poor, but that is simply not the case. She’s seen women in the retreat with sixth-grade educations, and Ph.D.s, and even pastors’ wives.
Bryan said one in three women have been abused.
“That’s the statistic we’re given,” she said.
How to help: Volunteers are always needed, and the retreat is planning to offer a training course for volunteers within the next six weeks.
The retreat also has been given an anonymous challenge grant. For the next 30 days any donation received by the retreat will be matched.
Anyone interested in volunteering or making a donation may call the center at 624-6334.