UNE Department of Occupational Therapy collects gifts for Family Crisis Services shelter

This holiday season, Emily Rosenbaum (MSOT ’17), organized a department-wide effort to collect gifts for domestic violence victims living in the emergency shelter at Family Crisis Services in Portland.

Students, faculty, staff from the Department of Occupational Therapy donated gifts to 16 mothers, 32 children and 13 single individuals. Family Crisis Services Community Services Coordinator Stephanie Eklund said the clients were overwhelmed with joy and excitement. “Holidays have always been hard,” said one mother staying at the shelter. “There was always a lot of fear that the day would end up with my abuser losing it, and he often did. I wasn't sure how things would work out this Christmas.  We are safe but I didn’t have any money, but wow!  People were so generous. I wish they knew how great they've made this Christmas.”