When my friend Brianna Cayo Cotter and I started a project called Swap for Good last spring, the idea was to raise both awareness and money for the underfunded and critical services provided by domestic violence shelters around the country.

 The idea behind Swap for Good is simple – encourage people across the country to host clothing swap houseparties, and pass the hat at the event to raise money for local domestic violence shelters. Everyone brings a bag of clothes to swap with friends, and then people can chip in some of the money they’ve saved on shopping and put it towards a critical cause.

 We’ve been thrilled to see the outpouring of support from around the country, as women all over the United States have helped grow this idea into a national project. Events have been held in over 15 states, with people swapping books, clothes, kitchen gadgets, even Halloween costumes. Some people are hosting events in their living room; others are hosting in college dorms, community centers, or their office’s lunchroom.

 What unites all of these events is that people are standing up to make a difference, raising awareness and money for a critical cause. There is a funding crisis for domestic violence shelters in this country, and it is largely un-covered by the media. During the recession, requests for help have gone up, while funding has plummeted. According to the National Network to End Domestic Violence, in just one day in this country over thirty-five thousand domestic violence victims found refuge in the life-saving programs of emergency shelters or transitional housing – but over 9,000 requests for help had to be turned down, largely due to lack of funds. Many of these women are mothers who want to flee abusive partners. They want to protect their children and re-build a life that is free of violence – but can’t do this without the guarantee of safe housing and support.

Shelters around the country are facing major funding cuts to their already under-funded programs.  Rhode Island shelters lost 60 % of their funding, and New York had over half of the state’s funding for non-residential services cut.

 This October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and the good news is that you can do something to help.  Join us in our efforts to raise awareness with friends, coworkers and neighbors, and host a Swap for Good event.

We’ll make it easy for you, with a how-to guide that walks you through all the simple steps to have a successful houseparty. And by hosting an event, you help send a clear message that people around the country care about domestic violence and want to make a difference.

Small grassroots efforts like swaps, bake sales, and other fundraisers won’t fill the entirety of this funding gap. But as individuals do our part, it sends a message to state legislators that they need to do their part as well – and fully fund these programs that help save women’s lives.