Prince Harry and Meghan Markle provided shelter for Dallas women after a winter storm left the group with collapsed roofs and explosive pipes. While taking to Twitter, Genesis Women’s Shelter and Support announced on February 21 that they had received a grant from the Archewell Foundation, a non-profit organization created by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. The group thanked the couple and said the fund will support the re-roofing of its transition housing facility and help meet their immediate needs.
Today the news of our damages reached Prince Harry and Meghan, Duke and Duchess of Sussex! Through their nonprofit, they are supporting us in renovating the roof at our transition housing facility and helping us to meet our immediate needs. ORAN DO BHONN, ARCHEWELL FOUNDATION! pic.twitter.com/rFtxzvtFRo
– Genesis Women’s Shelter & Support (@GenesisShelter) February 22, 2021
According to the magazine-based website People, Jan Langbein, Head of Genesis women’s shelter & support, said the donation made by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will help the group get back on its feet. Jan said this gift will not only provide the essential needs of the organization, but also bring international attention to violence against women and children, and let survivors know that they are not alone. It is worth noting that the Duke and Duchess’ s contribution comes at a time of crisis as most domestic violence groups have reported an increase in violence.
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Support received from 50 states
Meanwhile, the Dallas-based shelter closed for the first time in 35 years after last week’s winter storm, which hit power across the state, collapsing at an emergency shelter and Genesis apartment . Jan said as cold weather continued throughout the week, the pipes burst, flooding a school on the group’s site. She said the furniture was covered with insulation after the roofs collapsed.
Genesis serves approximately 3,700 women and children each year. In the aftermath of the winter storm, clients were evacuated to hotels, other shelters, and to the homes of friends and family. In a tweet, the group had said the shelter had reopened and donations were pouring in from across the country.
This may be just a picture of a bed, but it was taken in our emergency shelter today & that shows that a survivor of domestic violence will have a safe place to put her head down tonight . We are so grateful for the support we received from all 50 states – you did it! pic.twitter.com/f5YSzZk3t1
– Genesis Women’s Shelter & Support (@GenesisShelter) February 20, 2021
It is worth noting that Texas is currently in the midst of a winter storm and experiencing the coldest temperatures in decades. Power pressures, caused by a combination of high demand, bad weather power stations, and a grid cut from the rest of the country, have left millions moving in the dark. Water problems have affected an estimated 14.3 million residents out of a total population of about 29 million, as officials distribute fresh water and food to thousands of people.
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