| Women helping women helping women. | |
In a four year period, she survived a near-fatal car wreck, her father died, the woman she loved as a mother died, other important people in her life passed away, and she lost her beloved pet of fourteen years. She found the strength to start the recovery process - physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually - when recovery was interrupted. Her husband left her, and without her knowledge, cleared out their joint banking accounts. Two hours later she was served with divorce papers.  These are not tragedies from a book or screenplay; this is not fiction at all. This is part of Sue Wilson’s life - an everyday woman living a suburban life in the outskirts of Atlanta. Knowing she couldn’t survive all of these devastating events on her own, she searched for a program where women could connect and share their experiences and pain with one another. Unable to find what she felt she needed, Sue invited two friends, who where experiencing similar circumstances, to her home. This was the awakening of a new group, and Sue soon after founded Garden of Empowerment. Garden of Empowerment is a unique organization for women who are separated, divorced, or widowed. This is not your typical support group of women who have experienced these circumstances. Garden of Empowerment’s goal is to help women move forward with their lives by providing a safe place for emotional healing and growth. Divorce rates are high, as well as marital separations and spousal loss. Many women have been stay-at-home moms and housewives for most of their adult lives and haven’t had the responsibility of being “head of the household.” Finding one’s self in this position can be overwhelming at the very least and suspect to a vulnerable state. Garden of Empowerment strives to empower women by offering educational programs, discussion groups, seminars, and even a mentoring program. “It’s also about encouragement. We are women helping women helping women,” says Sue. “We have had some great programs preparing us for our new lives. The signing of a final divorce decree is not the end - it’s the beginning of a new life,” says Sue. Some of the organization’s programs have been Who am I and What do I Want?, Being Better When Everyone Around You is Crazy, The Credit Conundrum, Why We Allow People into our Lives Who are not Good for Us, and Strategic Planning for Your Life. The first meeting inspiring the start of Garden of Empowerment took place in 2001. Today, the group has touched the lives of over 600 women and continues to grow, receiving three to five new inquires each week. Garden of Empowerment relies on donations. In late 2006, the organization applied for and received a 501(c)(3) status as a nonprofit organization. It has been Sue’s endless effort and in most cases, her own funding, that has kept the group going and growing, while working two jobs. Starting any organization can be quite challenging, as Sue has found out first-hand. For the organization to continue to grow and offer more services, it has become apparent that charitable donations and partnerships are needed. Currently, the organization is looking for a permanent location to call home, for administration purposes as well as for group meetings.  “We need a location to meet where everyone feels safe that also offers privacy, allowing our members to speak openly,” said Sue. Other areas the group needs help with is the construction of a functional website, seating and tables, office supplies, and most of the components of a small business. Garden of Empowerment is a recognized nonprofit organization of United Way of Forsyth County. Sue and many of the members are working on partnerships to create ongoing funding. Recently, a partnership was established with Caboodle Cartridge in John’s Creek who is providing funding to the organization through an ink cartridge recycling program as well as cash donations from each new cartridge sold. “My passion in life is to encourage and inspire as many women as possible through Garden of Empowerment,” says Sue. TownLoafer Magazine is honored to sponsor Garden of Empowerment and will make a cash donation to assist with its efforts. We encourage others to join us in supporting this much needed organization. Additionally, author Aurea McGarry will donate 10% of each sale of her newly released book I Won’t Survive, I’ll Thrive through January 10 when you mention this article or the book’s ad on page 6. Read similar articles in TownLoafer Magazine at www.townloafer.com |
