RESPOND Inc., a Somerville-based domestic violence agency, recently received the Powderhouse Award for Non-profit of the Year from the Somerville Chamber of Commerce.

By Cathleen Twardzik

RESPOND Inc., a Somerville-based domestic violence agency, recently received the Powderhouse Award for Non-profit of the Year from the Somerville Chamber of Commerce at the Holiday Inn in Somerville. The award was presented at the 65th Annual Chamber of Commerce Dinner.

“Darcie DeLuca, Controller of RESPOND Inc. and Kathleen Donahue, President of the Board of Directors of RESPOND Inc., accepted the Powderhouse Award on RESPOND’s behalf,” said Jessica Brayden, Executive Director of RESPOND Inc.

“RESPOND deserves this award as a community partner who works tirelessly every day to meet the needs of people in our community,” said Mark Alston-Follansbee, Director of the Somerville Homeless Coalition.

The Powderhouse Awards, which have been presented by the Somerville Chamber of Commerce since 1996, are given to a distinguished local non-profit on a yearly basis.

Further, the awards are generated by nominations of Chamber members.  A committee reviews the nominations and then the full board votes for an awardee.

RESPOND Inc. is the first domestic violence agency in Massachusetts, as well as the second oldest in the nation. Each year RESPOND helps thousands of men, women and children via outreach, emergency shelter and counseling, as well as through other services.

“For 37 years RESPOND has served Somerville and its surrounding communities through our mission to end domestic violence. We have always had the strong support of the Somerville community, both businesses and individuals, and we look forward to continuing our mission in years to come,” said Brayden.

The non-profit reaches over 7,000 survivors of domestic violence annually.

“I don’t know what some women [would] have done, if they didn’t have a vehicle such as RESPOND.  You’re helping stop the abuse for future generations,” said Sandra McGoldrick, Winter Hill Bank President and CEO.

The organization serves communities throughout Greater Boston and beyond with special emphasis on Somerville, Everett, Malden, Medford, Melrose, North Reading, Reading, Cambridge, Stoneham, Wakefield, Winchester and Woburn.

Programs and services include an emergency shelter, individual and group counseling, legal advocacy, community outreach and educational programs.

“The most exciting part of working at RESPOND is being part of a team that changes lives. Often, people will tell me they called the RESPOND crisis hotline one, five, or even 10 years ago, and that call saved their life. It’s amazing to hear not only about the great work the RESPOND is doing now, but that the work of our predecessors and founders is still having an impact on the lives of so many [people] in the community,” said Brayden.

RESPOND will have a free open house in April. The event will provide an occasion to discover all of its life-saving services.

At present, services are provided in Spanish, English, French, Cape Verdean Creole and Portuguese.

For assistance, please call RESPOND’s 24-hour hotline at (617) 623-5900.

Interested individuals may call (617) 625-5996, or visit www.respondinc.org to volunteer or to make a donation.