Shop & Share Day to Benefit Safe Harbor Set for February 7

Shop & Share Day to Benefit Safe Harbor Set for February 7

Sasha Bush

The Ashland Beacon

Community members across the region will have an opportunity to support survivors of domestic violence during the annual Shop & Share event on Saturday, Feb. 7, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The one-day donation drive is designed to collect essential household and food items for domestic violence shelters across Kentucky, with all items collected locally benefiting Safe Harbor of Northeast Kentucky.

Shop & Share is organized by the First Lady’s Office in partnership with the Kentucky Coalition Against Domestic Violence. The event supports regional domestic violence shelters by ensuring they have the supplies needed to assist individuals and families fleeing unsafe situations.

“On Saturday, Feb. 7, Kentuckians have the opportunity to participate in Shop & Share – a one-day drive to provide Kentucky’s regional domestic violence shelters with much-needed items,” First Lady Britainy Beshear said in a written online statement. “I’m proud to partner with ZeroV for this donation drive every year.”

Locally, Shop & Share will be held at Walmart Riverhill Ashland, Walmart Cannonsburg, Pennington’s Food Fair Flatwoods, Food Fair Ashland, Food Fair Greenup, and Food City in Louisa. Every item collected at these participating stores will directly support survivors at Safe Harbor of Northeast Kentucky.

Safe Harbor of Northeast Kentucky is a domestic violence shelter serving the FIVCO Area Development District counties of Boyd, Greenup, Carter, Elliott, and Lawrence. The shelter relies on community support to help meet the daily needs of individuals and families seeking safety.

The First Lady emphasized the importance of addressing domestic violence and supporting those affected. “As First Lady, my number one goal is to make our commonwealth a safer place for all our families,” she stated. “Sadly, in Kentucky, more than 45% of women and 35% of men experience some form of domestic violence in their lifetime. These are not just numbers. They are our neighbors – from every community in our state.”

Shop & Share is a significant day for Safe Harbor and similar organizations across the state. The items collected during the event help stock shelter supplies for an entire year and provide basic necessities for families as they begin to rebuild their lives.

“My faith teaches that we are called to protect the most vulnerable,” Beshear said. “Organizations like ZeroV and each of our regional domestic violence shelters are there for survivors as they begin to heal and move forward.”

Volunteers will be stationed at participating stores throughout the day, handing out wish lists and asking shoppers to consider purchasing an extra item while completing their regular grocery trips. Donations will be collected as shoppers exit the stores. Requested items include canned goods, tuna, peanut butter, jelly, condiments, paper towels, diapers, and other essential household supplies. Monetary donations and store gift cards will also be accepted.

The First Lady shared how these donations can have a lasting impact. “Last year, I met a survivor who told me her story,” Beshear said. “Through donations like these, she received gift cards that she was able to use for gas and food. It was enough to get her and her family away from an abusive situation and find help.”

Shop & Share also ensures that families arriving at shelters have access to basic necessities. “More often than not, families fleeing for their lives don’t have much more than the clothes on their backs,” Beshear said. “Through Shop & Share, we can ensure survivors and their families have everyday essentials.”

The initiative was originally started by former First Lady Jane Beshear and has continued to grow over the years, raising both awareness and critical resources for shelters statewide.

“To the survivors out there who may be listening: I want you to know that there is help. You are brave,” Beshear said. “And your courage will get you and your family to better days. And we’re here to support you.”

For more information about Shop & Share or how to participate, contact Linda Day at Safe Harbor at 606.329.9304.