Restoration: More Than a Car, More Than a Gift

In 2024, more than 15,000 incidents of domestic violence were reported in Shelby County. Behind each number is a person making impossible choices. Behind each statistic is someone searching for safety.

Two of the communities we serve—Northaven and Southeast Unincorporated Shelby County—are considered hotspots for domestic violence. In these neighborhoods, women impacted by domestic abuse face a crisis that extends far beyond the abuse itself: the devastating impact of being trapped without reliable transportation.

For a woman experiencing domestic abuse, not having a car isn't just an inconvenience—it can have life-threatening consequences. It means depending on an abuser for rides. It means missing work and risking the only income to keep a roof overhead. It means being unable to flee when danger escalates. It means isolation when connection could save your life.

But when a woman has a car, everything changes.

Having reliable transportation helps women feel not only safe but also empowered. It creates stability that ripples through every area of life: getting to and from work, safely transporting children to school, attending court dates for protective orders, accessing counseling appointments, and doing the everyday things many of us take for granted; grocery shopping, doctor visits, and simply being able to leave when you need to leave.

This year, through a partnership with Pinnacle Financial Partners, Carey's Body Shop, and the National Autobody Council's Restored Rides program, we witnessed restoration in its most tangible form: we gifted a restored vehicle to one of our clients.

But here's what makes this story even more profound.

For two years, this woman took advantage of comprehensive support from The Women's Advocacy Center. She received biweekly meals to feed her family. Financial assistance covered rent, utilities, and transportation costs when she needed them most. Biweekly household supplies met everyday needs. Our support group provided community when isolation threatened to discourage her from moving forward. Counseling addressed her mental well-being. One-on-one coaching offered encouragement and guidance as she rebuilt her life piece by piece.

We provided summer camp for her children, giving them the childhood experiences with great memories every kid deserves. We ensured her family had a meal at Thanksgiving. We created opportunities for her to shop for Christmas gifts for her children, restoring the dignity of being able to give, not just receive.

Our investment in this woman and her family was well over $10,000. The impact on her life and the lives of her children? Priceless.

This is what comprehensive care looks like. This is what restoration means. This is what we do every day at The Women’s Advocacy Center.

It's not just about giving someone a car, though that car represents freedom, safety, and independence. It's about taking the journey alongside a woman for as long as it takes. It's about believing in her strength while providing what she needs to thrive. It's about honoring her determination while removing the barriers that make survival feel impossible.

She didn't need someone to save her. She was already showing up for her family, pushing forward despite the odds. She needed partners who would believe in her long enough for her to build something sustainable. Partners who understood that true restoration doesn’t happen overnight. It's a sustained commitment to walking together.

That car sits in her driveway now. But the real restoration? That's happening in the life of a woman who is no longer trapped, no longer isolated, no longer choosing between safety and survival. True restoration is what God is doing in her life and the lives of her children.

She's choosing both. And she's driving herself there. That’s a gift that is priceless.

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The Women's Advocacy Center provides comprehensive, wraparound support for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. To learn more about our programs or to partner with us in providing restoration, visit womensadvocacycenter.org.