Tequila’s Story – WINGS Offers an Umbrella in Life’s Storm

This #GivingTuesday, we have a goal to raise $10,000 for our comprehensive domestic violence services. We want to share why we are continually in awe and inspired by the resilient survivors WINGS has the honor to meet.

Tequila is one of the 1,221 survivors WINGS served last year. While she is the hero in her own story, your support allowed WINGS to offer an umbrella during her life’s storm.

Below is Tequila’s story in her own words.

Hot Water

“My life right before finding WINGS was hell in hot water.

Two years after the father of my five children died, I met my abuser. In the beginning, there was no abuse. I was wined and dined. However, as months and years went by, his attitude started to change.

He became jealous. He would stalk me as I got off work and get mad if he saw me laughing at a joke the security guard made. Prone to anger: he kicked in doors, threw bricks at my windows, and once even set my car on fire.

Even after we broke up, he kept driving by my house. I changed the locks and got an order of protection.

Once, when I was 5 months pregnant, he entered a friend’s yard and turned a hot grill over on my leg causing second-degree burns. We called the police, and he took off.

When I was 9 months pregnant, he came to my apartment again. I had just gotten home and couldn’t find the right key in time to stop him from coming into the building’s hallway. This time he yelled at me and my neighbors who opened their door, broke the glass door to the building, and threatened to come back to burn down the building.

I could not imagine staying there any longer. When I spoke to the police after this incident, they recommended I contact the Illinois Domestic Violence Hotline. That’s when I found WINGS.”

Welcomed from the Storm

“I came to WINGS Safe House 9 months pregnant. Two days later I went into labor.

When it was time to be discharged from the hospital, it was downpouring rain.

When the car pulled up to the WINGS Safe House, my Family Advocate Beverly and another staff member were there with umbrellas to keep me and my newborn dry.

This is just one example of why WINGS is the #1 domestic violence agency. Their staff are wonderful. Everyone comes to you with open arms.

WINGS helped me with everything: emotionally, physically, mentally, and financially.

I had the best Family Advocates and Children’s Advocates in Beverly and Ruby. Beverly would continuously lift me up, saying positive things like, “You’re on the right path,” and “I can see you are doing your best.” They kept me motivated.

When I was at WINGS, I stayed focused on my goals:

• Become a better mom
• Find housing
• Get good paying jobs

I accomplished ALL of my goals. I hit a home run.”

Developing my Talents

“Currently I have two jobs, a server at a restaurant and a phlebotomist.

I was lucky to get a housing voucher and find a home big enough for my family. We are so happy here. My kids are 17, 14, 11, 10, 7, and my baby is one. My oldest is on the honor roll and my other kids are continuing to improve their grades.

Now I’m continuing to focus on my personal growth, building wealth, being a better mom, and developing my talents.

I’m not concerned about being in a relationship. I understand the abuse cycle now and I’m not going back to that.

WINGS helps survivors develop skills, achieve goals, and become better people. I appreciate everything and want to give back. I feel like I truly am a survivor.”

We Know…

We know the physical, financial, and emotional toll domestic violence can have on a person, child, and community.

Sadly, the need for domestic violence services is on the rise. In 2023, the Illinois Domestic Violence Hotline received more than 47,000 contacts, a 27% increase over 2022 and 90% increase from pre-pandemic levels in 2019.

Last year, WINGS opened the Foglia Family Resource Center to provide counseling, support groups, and more to community members disclosing domestic violence. Already, the center has a 90 person wait list for adult counseling.

Help Provide the Umbrella

We hope this #GivingTuesday you will join with us to provide an umbrella of services to survivors weathering the storms in their lives.

We have a goal to raise $10,000 this #GivingTuesday.

Any donation level can make an impact:

• $960 can provide a year’s worth of counseling for a child
• $250 can cover a day of operating WINGS in-take line that provides safety planning
• $155 can provide one night of shelter at WINGS Safe House
• $50 can feed a family of four for a day at WINGS Safe Houses
• $25 can provide a box of diapers
• $12.50 can feed one person for a day at the WINGS Safe Houses

It’s the courage of survivors and the kindness of our supporters that fuels our mission to end domestic violence. Stand with us on #GivingTuesday. Stand with survivors like Tequila.

Your generosity can help be the umbrella to assist survivors on their journey to brighter days.