Hetty’s Haven
Hetty’s Story: “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”
Grass Valley resident Hetty Williams was shot to death with a high-powered nail gun by the man who had pledged to love and protect her. Hetty’s husband of more than 20 years murdered her shortly after she left the relationship. Hetty had filed for separation and moved out of their home. She met with her estranged husband a few weeks later to work out details when she was murdered in the home they once shared.
Hetty was a dedicated mother of two daughters, found joy in nature, and taught where she applied her desire to help others. Beginning with a career in landscape design, she later worked as a teacher for at-risk students, finding purpose in a career, adapting classroom lessons into tactile learning experiences for a blind student. She was a gentle, loving and dedicated woman who put her whole heart into everything she did. She was ready to live by her favorite quote, “Be the change you wish to see in the world,” but she never got the chance.
All of Women of Worth’s no-cost services are designed with this question in mind: “What would help women like Hetty to escape and start a safe, new life?” In the mind of the woman, the question could be as complicated as, “Where can I go…?
Hetty touched the lives of so many children, teachers, friends, and family in her community – and her loss was devastating. It is in her honor that Women of Worth opened Hetty’s Haven, a transitional home for women escaping domestic violence. Hetty’s Haven is a supportive safe haven for up to 15 women and children.
Hetty’s Haven is a beautiful seven-bedroom home that houses women and children escaping a violent environment. The need for the home is underscored by the fact that women need a long-term transitional program that will help them rebuild their lives in a structured, loving environment where they are not worried about where their meals, clothing or basic necessities will come from. Otherwise, they may feel compelled to return to a dangerous environment for fear of having nowhere to go.
In Hetty’s Haven, women and their children receive much needed services such as counseling, mentoring, resume building and job search assistance, as well as life skills development so they can establish a new life through a variety of programs.
Help give her a place to go home. Women of Worth is seeking help from the community to raise additional funding to sustain this amazing home, which is already resulting in healed and rebuilt lives for so many.
Women of Worth is a 501 (c)(3) community benefit nonprofit assisting families in crisis and domestic violence victims to increase self-reliance and improve quality of life by helping them rebuild their lives with dignity, hope and safety. Our services are provided free of charge to our clients. Results are families that live in safety, renewed hopefulness — free from the threat of violence and abuse.
Contact us for more information at (530) 272-6851 or at info@ihaveworth.org.
