The Town of Donaldsonville hosted the Holly Jolly Hope Fest on Saturday to raise awareness about domestic violence with proceeds benefiting the Iris Domestic Violence Center.

The event, held at the Lemann Memorial Center, featured 20 merchants, raffles, silent auctions, food and information about services offered by the Iris Domestic Violence Center.

“It’s Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and today’s proceeds, along with donations collected, will benefit the Iris Domestic Violence Center,” said Michele Ashby, director of community and economic development for the Ascension Parish. “Today, many people came to help the center and raise awareness that domestic violence affects everyone.

“It’s important for me, as a survivor of domestic violence, to help. It’s one of those secrets that people don’t really understand sometimes. »

The main purpose of the event was to offer information about the services the Iris Domestic Violence Center offers to help people in abusive situations, said Patti Joy Freeman, executive director of the Iris Domestic Violence Center.

The center serves eight Louisiana parishes with more than a dozen shelters.

“We serve men and women equally, offer a 24-hour crisis line and assess families’ needs and safety,” Freeman said.

Freeman understands the need for help for families experiencing domestic violence. She worked for 28 years with the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office. She has participated in the investigation of crimes against children, the elderly and sex crimes. She is also a former member of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

The Iris Domestic Violence Center recently expanded to include new shelter amenities, including private rooms, playgrounds, entire wings dedicated to children, art activities and serenity gardens.

“We have a little different shelter model,” Freeman said. “We want to ensure safety, but also joy, dignity and every person deserves all of that.

“There’s nothing we won’t do for a survivor, and no one will know the Iris shelters are full. We work with law enforcement to find safe places for families to stay.

The organization works closely with the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services.

Among the vendors who participated in the event was Onetia Materre, owner of Missy O’s Accessories.

Materre, a Donaldsonville native and Southern University graduate, came from Houston for the event.

“I believe in the need to end violence,” Materre said. “Domestic violence is pushing its limits and we must do everything we can to stop it.

“I’m sure everyone knows someone who has been abused and the cycle needs to be broken.”

Freeman said an additional upcoming service the organization will offer will include allowing pets to stay with families receiving services.

“We have partnered with RedRover and hope to offer this in January,” Freeman said.

RedRover is a national organization “that helps bring animals out of crisis and strengthen the bonds between humans and animals through emergency shelter,” according to its website.

For more information about the Iris Domestic Violence Center’s services, visit www.stopdv.org.

To contact the Iris Domestic Violence Center’s 24-hour crisis line, call (225) 389-3001 or (800) 541-9706.