CTFS brunch brings caring bunch

Cross Timbers Family Services drew the full 50% capacity (due to the COVID pandemic) to its Better Beginning Brunch Saturday at the N at Hardaway Ranch and raised approximately $15,000 for the Erath County agency and the services it provides.

The mission of Cross Timbers Family Services is to enhance safety and justice by preventing domestic violence, sexual assault, and other violent crimes in our community through empowerment, advocacy, awareness, and action for social change.

“I’m very pleased at the enthusiasm,” said CTFS President Laura Gambino, who reported there were 25 donations of silent auction items for the event that was sponsored by Lone Star Ag Credit and partnered with Fraser, Wilson & Bryan Legal Services and Crosstimbers Imaging. She said planning has already begun on next year’s brunch and they hope it can grow in years to come.

Speaking at the event was Dr. Cessna Winslow, an assistant professor of Communication studies at Tarleton State University. Winslow was on-hand to address CTFS’ mission of 2021 in domestic violence awareness.

After earning her doctorate, Winslow left an abusive 26-year marriage to join the faculty at Tarleton, starting a new beginning with two of her children. She credits her transition from victim to survivor to agency like CTFS which offered her valuable support and services, and she advocated for domestic violence awareness and the support resources offered by CTFS.

The brunch also featured a guided craft by Pinspiration and a full brunch menu with quiche, fruit, scones, fresh fruit and more.

Gambino also presented statistics of people helped From A1 by CTFS in 2020 during the brunch, reporting that the agency assisted 173 clients (154 female and 19 male).

Among those helped were 85 suffering from domestic violence. Gambino noted this was particularly tough in 2020 since it was difficult for victims to find support when the shutdown and social distance guidelines kept them at home and often prohibited them from getting them the help they needed.

Advocacy posters for the 2021 domestic violence campaign were passed out with the slogan, “Home should be a safe place.”

Gambino also announced that a golf tournament is being planned for the final Saturday in June at Squaw Valley. For more information about registering, sponsoring a hole or just how to help CTFS in its endeavors, call (254) 965-5516 or visit crosstimbershelps.org.