100 First Safe Nights: Why the First Night Matters Most
- violenceprevention
- Dec 1
- 2 min read
For survivors of domestic violence, the first night after escaping is often the hardest. Even when the door finally closes and locks behind them, the body doesn’t immediately understand it’s safe.
Survivors tell us about the shaking. The long, sleepless hours. The way they keep their shoes close by—just in case. They talk about fear not as an emotion, but as a sound: a constant hum in the background of their lives.
One woman told our staff, “I didn’t realize how loud fear was until the first night it went quiet.”
That quiet is what safety sounds like. And that quiet is exactly what your gift creates.
What Is a “First Safe Night”?
A First Safe Night is the very first moment stability begins. It includes more than a bed:
A door that locks
A warm shower
Clean linens
Fresh clothing and toiletries
A staff member sitting with them until they can finally breathe again
A meal they don’t need to rush through
A room where no one is coming for them
It’s the moment survivors stop running. The moment their children finally fall asleep. The moment their bodies understand: You are safe here.
This year, as part of our End-of-Year Campaign, we are working to fund 100 First Safe Nights for survivors and their families.
That means 100 moments where fear goes quiet. 100 nights of rest, protection, and dignity. 100 new beginnings.
Why Your Gift Matters Now
As the holidays approach, many survivors are facing their darkest moments. Winter is one of the most dangerous seasons for people experiencing domestic violence. Increased stress, school breaks, financial pressure, and limited support make leaving even harder.
And when someone does flee—often with nothing but a phone, the clothes on their body, and their children—they need safety that same night, not days later.
Your gift offers that immediate lifeline.
$135 provides one full First Safe Night
$75 offers comfort items and crisis support through the night
$30 provides warm meals and essentials
Every dollar helps move a survivor from danger to safety—from fear to peace.
A First Safe Night Changes Everything
Consider the mom who watched her son fall asleep in three minutes because it was the first time he didn’t have to stay alert. Or the little girl who laughed—really laughed—for the first time in months because she finally felt safe enough to play again. Or the older woman who held her own neck, trying to relax muscles that had been clenched for years, whispering, “I didn’t know it could be this quiet.”
Safety is not small. Safety is everything.
And you can be the one who makes that possible.
You Can Create the First Night of Peace
Giving Tuesday is just days away, and early gifts help us build crucial momentum before the big day arrives. Your generosity today says to a survivor:
You’re safe now. You’re not alone. You have a place to rest.
Help us fund 100 First Safe Nights before the year ends.
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