On October 19, 2006, founder Janice Pettigrew was the keynote speaker at the Concerted Services and Magnolia House 5th Annual Volunteer and Service Award Banquet in Waycross, Georgia. Magnolia House under the umbrella of Concerted Services Inc. is a shelter for victims of domestic violence serving a five county area.
Arriving early for the event Janice Pettigrew accompanied by her husband Oscar Pettigrew, Jr. had the opportunity to visit the Magnolia House, escorted by legal advocate Jill Nagel. Mrs. Nagel explained that the house is equipped to house up to 14 women and children with an average stay of six weeks.
“The things I was most impressed about were location, security and the warmth of the house” remarked Mrs. Pettigrew. Hidden in plain site is the best description and the safety precautions in place can only serve to assure women that the shelter is a safe haven for them during their time of need. The house itself is full of warmth and light that when you enter the main area it feels as if you’ve entered someone’s private home.
After the visit to the shelter it was on to the evening’s event held at a local church. There the Pettigrews met the acting shelter director Michele Girtman and other members of the staff as well as several volunteers prior to commencement of the activities.
Mrs. Pettigrew began her speech to the audience by first sharing a little about her own ordeals as a victim of domestic violence and how in later years it prompted her to start Fresh Start for Women. She proceeded to thank the volunteers and shelter staff for their generosity of time, money, resources and genuine support. Her speech provided insights into the thought processes a victim may go through and the important role volunteers and workers play in the healing process. She also reminded those in attendance that as long as women and their children are not safe the need for Magnolia House would remain and that ordinary citizens, law enforcement and the legal system to continue to be involved is crucial.
Though the speech was one of a serious nature Mrs. Pettigrew’s natural ability to weave a story to capture her audience’s attention brought smiles, laughter and a few amens as she encouraged all to continue to do the good they do. As she said many times throughout the speech, “Thank you is such a small thing to say, but it means so much more.”
After the banquet Mrs. Pettigrew, Jill Nagel and Michelle Girtman spoke about bringing the Fresh Start program to Magnolia House in April 2007.
