Jaymie Depew

The newest member of the Alger County Chamber of Commerce is the Women’s Center.

The Women’s Center has provided free services for domestic violence and sexual assault survivors in the Marquette area for over 45 years. After realizing a need for its help in Alger County, the organization opened an office in Munising in 1996.

Though the name of the nonprofit organization can be misleading, the mission of the Women’s Center is to protect, educate, advocate, council, and empower (PEACE) anyone that needs its services, not just women.

State and federal funding covers two-thirds of the annual operating costs of the Women’s Center, according to the organization. However, the Harbor House, the center’s emergency shelter for DV and SA survivors; educational and marketing materials; and the offices in Marquette or Munising are funded through individual and corporate donations, community grants, fundraisers, and revenue generated from Pak Ratz – a resale shop operated by the Women’s Center, which is located at 1310 S. Front St. in Marquette.

Advocates of the Women’s Center are trained to facilitate needs assessments and provide supportive services based on the individual’s needs. According to the website, fundamental services include, but are not limited to:

≤ Crisis intervention/

response

≤ 24/7 support line

≤ Threat assessment and safety planning

≤ Assistance obtaining a Personal Protection Order (PPO)

≤ Referrals and advocacy in these areas: medical, legal, financial, housing, education, and employment

≤ Child and adult individual and support-group counseling

≤ Transportation

≤ Educational information about domestic violence, dating violence, sexual violence, and stalking

≤ Housing Advocacy

Information and support are available 24/7. Call (906) 226-6611 or (800) 455-6611, or Text (906) 356-3337 or visit wcmqt.org.

Editor’s note: Jaymie Depew is the communications and special project assistant for the Alger County Chamber of Commerce/Greater Munising Bay Partnership for Commerce Development, Munising Downtown Development Authority and Munising Visitors Bureau.