Women in Need receives over $5,000 from ‘Mommy & Me’ portrait event

win — From L to R: Sarah Duckworth Photography Owner Sarah Duckworth, WIN Executive Director Connie Pettitt, WIN Women's Shelter Outreach Director Cheryl Bahm, Legend Salon Owner Kim Rzeszutko.

(ROCKWALL, TX – Jan. 26, 2016) Legend Salon and Sarah Duckworth Photography in Rockwall raised $5,075 with their 2^nd Annual Mom and Me Portrait Fundraiser benefitting Women In Need (WIN), nearly doubling the amount they were able to raise during 2014’s fundraising event.

Legend Salon Owner Kim Rzeszutko and Sarah Duckworth, owner of Sarah Duckworth Photography, invited mothers and their children to get dolled up by the team of stylists at Legend Salon for special family photographs for Mother’s Day taken by Duckworth at her business located at 502 N. Goliad St. This special Mother’s Day package, which included a complimentary 8×10 portrait, cost $85 and every cent went towards WIN to help abused women throughout the community and beyond.

Cheryl Bahm, WIN women’s shelter outreach director, said the time that Kim and Sarah take to volunteer for such a great cause to make the event such a success means so much to WIN and its clients.

“The thing that always speaks to me is that they give up their time on the weekend,” Bahm said. “Not only are they donating their supplies and location, Kim has five or six of her stylists come in so that we can make sure that the women are being doted on and feel special.”

Refreshments and goody bags were also available at the event, and businesses throughout the community were invited to join the fun and support the mission of WIN.

WIN provides protective orders, legal advocacy, crisis counseling, a 24/7 hotline and support groups for domestic abuse victims. The nonprofit organization will operate out of the up-and-coming Rockwall Child Advocacy Center located at the old home of Rockwall Soroptmists on E. Washington St. The building will also house My Sister’s Closet, a boutique that provides gently used clothing to women in need who are re-entering the workforce.

For more information about WIN visit wintexas.org/.

Story and photo by Austin Wells, Blue Ribbon News staff writer.

The Blue Ribbon News print edition is delivered free to more than 18,000 homes throughout Rockwall and Heath.