Welcome to our sixth edition of The Advocate! As we step into the new year, Sanctuary is meeting winter’s urgency head-on, making sure survivors and their families have the safety, support, and stability they deserve.

Check out our latest program updates and learn how you can join us in making a difference.

End-of-Year Holidays: We wrapped up another successful holiday season at Sanctuary! Through our Adopt-a-Family Program, we supported 108 families, and more than 1,000 additional clients received gifts through our Winter Wishes Program.

Thank you to our donors and to the hundreds of individuals and groups who visited our gift-giving space for making this season meaningful for survivors and their families.

Sarah Burke House: Our transitional shelter’s After School Program, strengthened by volunteers, keeps our youngest survivors learning and thriving. Families closed out 2025 with a shelter-wide holiday celebration, and the new year is already packed with yoga, a STEM workshop, and an upcoming veterinarian Q&A.

Our Fall 2025 English Conversation Group (ECG) partnered 15 volunteers with 46 clients who were working to enhance their conversational English skills. This program helps clients gain confidence speaking English as they work to overcome barriers they may face day-to-day.

More recently, on January 14, volunteers joined Sanctuary's Economic Empowerment Programs (EEP) for in-person mock interviews at our Manhattan office. This was the first chance for EEP participants to meet, in person, the volunteers who supported them virtually throughout the fall.

Alongside our Adopt-a-Family and Winter Wishes supporters, we’re deeply grateful to the partners below for showing up for survivors and their families with gift bags for all ages, plus toys, games, and warm winter essentials:

• Atria
• Bloomberg LP
• JPMorgan Chase
• Linklaters LLP
• People Inc.
• SMBC
• Wilson Sonsini

Here are a few quotes from gift recipients expressing their gratitude:

“Thank you so much for all the wonderful gifts. The coats for my daughter, the blankets, and the toys truly made this Christmas very special for us. We are so warm and grateful.”

"Sanctuary accepted me and my family when we were experiencing the most difficult times of our lives, when we thought there was no help or a kind hand. But we found not just a hand, we found a whole body of people willing to listen and give their best to help us.”

"Thank you so much. You've been our angel this year and Sanctuary too... It brings me to tears every time I remember."

Esteban Valverde

Esteban began volunteering in September and has already contributed more than 50 hours to Sanctuary! He started by helping visitors navigate our Survivor-Owned Small Business Fair, and he has since provided urgent translations for our Legal Center and served as an in-person interpreter at multiple client intake clinics.

We are so grateful to Esteban for his dedication and flexibility!

Upcoming and Ongoing Volunteer Opportunities

• Educational Homework Help/Tutoring: Once a week, February-May, virtual (schedules determined based on volunteer interest/availability)
• English Conversation Group (ECG): Two one-hour sessions each week, March-May, virtual
• Translation/Interpretation: Flexible schedule, document translation as well as in-person interpretation opportunities for multiple languages

Interested? Email us to learn more or sign up. You can also check Vome for new opportunities as they’re posted.

Join Sanctuary at the following celebrations:

• Pillars of Change | April 23: A celebration of Sanctuary for Families' remarkable volunteers who dedicate their time, energy, and resources to support our organization and survivors of gender violence. More details coming soon.
• Zero Tolerance | June 3: Join us for Sanctuary’s annual benefit honoring survivors of gender violence and three inspirational leaders in the movement. Volunteer needs will be shared as the date approaches. Click here to learn more about this event.

Questions? Please contact us at volunteer@sffny.org.