About Tri-Valley Haven About Tri-Valley Haven (November 30, 2001)

While Claire Nelson and friends were launching the Gingerbread Cookie Project in the late 1970s, they were also founding Tri-Valley Haven for women who have experienced domestic violence or sexual assault.

"I was a nursery school teacher and I had children in my school whose behavior was quite different," recalled Nelson. "I didn't understand what was going on until I realized that the mother was being beaten."

She hooked up with Cathie Brown, currently mayor of Livermore, who was a probation officer at the time. They publicized a gathering of interested people and 30 people showed up, Nelson remembered.

"That number dwindled down to 15, but these were people who had worked in the community," said Nelson. "It essentially worked because of the combined experience of the people. We were able to set up a shelter in record time."

Today, Tri-Valley Haven runs a 24-hour crisis line, a 30-bed domestic violence shelter, affordable counseling, rape crisis response, low-cost restraining orders and community education.

Volunteers aim to help women break the cycle of abuse, which often is carried on by succeeding generations. Last Christmas a young man brought in $200 he had collected from his co-workers after telling them how the Haven had assisted him and his mother 10 years before.

Last year volunteers did the following: Ą Answered 3,157 crisis calls Ą Sheltered 145 women and children Ą Provided counseling and advocacy for 416 people Ą Made education presentations to more than 3,000 people

For more information, call 449-5845.

Lost founders Lost founders (November 30, 2001)

The board of the Tri-Valley Haven is trying to locate all of the women who signed the incorporation papers but are still looking for Cheryl Foreman, Josephine Ivins, Donna McAlice and Martie Vasallo. Anyone knowing their whereabouts is asked to call the Haven at 449-5845.