Nonprofit plans ice cream giveaway for those at domestic violence emergency shelters

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY)– Neisha Himes is a survivor of domestic violence and now spends her time working tirelessly as an advocate against abuse.

This week she’s planning an ice cream giveaway.

“I just remember when I was young and running to the ice cream truck with my sisters,” she said.

Himes founded the Girls Recognizing Our Worth (or G.R.O.W) foundation. It is a nonprofit geared toward helping victims of domestic violence escape.

The team of advocates wants to help hundreds of families create a few happy memories this summer by visiting seven emergency shelters with free ice cream and snow cones. This is the third year for the ice cream giveaway; last year was canceled because of the pandemic.

“These are times of uncertainty. It’s overwhelming, it’s a lot going on. We wanted to provide a sense of normalcy and a good memory” explained Himes. “You have these children who are living with other families that they do not know. It’s not like they can go home and go into their own room. Home isn’t safe, so know we’re in a place where they are safe from that danger but it’s still scary because you don’t know when you’re going to get out.”

Each shelter has about 50 to 80 people. The groups will meet at an undisclosed location, for safety reasons.

The dates:

• Genieve Shelter & H.E.R Shelter: 7/10
• Transitions Family Violence Services: 7/23
• YWCA South Hampton Roads: 8/28
• Samaritan House: TBD
• Avalon Center: TBD
• ForKids: TBD

G.R.O.W will continue to work with survivors of abuse as they rebuild their lives.

“Whether you’re in a shelter right now and just want to see your kids run to get some ice cream or you’re out of the shelter and you’re just trying to learn how to pick your head up,” she said.

Her organization will offer help with safety planning and a support group known as the GROWing fighters.

“It’s literally, for me, about empowering survivors from the beginning until that final step in their healing journey,” she said.

The G.R.O.W foundation is accepting donations of any kind for the ice cream giveaway.

If you would like to donate email info@growfoundationva.org or visit growfoundationva.org/donate-sponsor/.

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