Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura Pahules.
Laura, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I started Control Alt Delete in August 2019 to help those escaping domestic violence with immediate needs. Needs like a cab ride, gas for their car, a hotel room, a moving company and storage.
There is a gap in services for those experiencing domestic abuse and Control Alt Delete will offer immediate solutions for those fleeing.
Having worked in human services for years, there is a consistent issue with domestic violence in all of the various agencies I have worked and volunteered for. This problem stretches across all socioeconomic walks of life – there is no race, religion, ethnicity or region that is exempt from this disruptive behavior.
I wanted to be able to remove the barriers that keep people in unsafe environments and that is exactly what Control Alt Delete does.
In mid-September, Control Alt Delete got a request for help. A mom and her children were leaving an abusive relationship and could use gas to get to a relative’s house in another state.
I met this mom on the outskirts of the Phoenix metro area to give her a gas card. As I pulled into the gas station, she was pretty easy to identify with black eyes and new stitches on the side of her mouth. I could tell she was wary of me and everyone around… can you blame her?
As I approached her car, I noticed 3 small children in car seats in the back of the car. Have you ever been around toddlers? They are never quiet. From babbling to playing to crying to laughing; they are noisy! Not these 3 little ones. They were absolutely silent as I approached.
The mom got out of the car as if to keep a safe distance between me and her babies. I did not ask where she was going or what happened. I gave her a hug and told her to pull her car up to the gas pump then I filled the car with gas. Control Alt Delete provided her with a gas gift card to help get her and her children to safety. Fortunately, I had put a BIN bin in my car and was able to give her a basket full of immediate need items like toothpaste, shampoo and toilet paper.
This is what Control Alt Delete does; provides immediate needs to those fleeing domestic violence. This mom and her babies are on their way to safety and healing.
The last weekend in September I got a call from a young man. His husband had beaten him and he was ready to leave; he needed to leave for his safety. He has no car and no money. He could not get help from his family because they shunned him when he came “out”. Control Alt Delete provided him a hotel room for the night to give him a safe place to rest until some friends could come pick him up the following day. We also gave him a donated Subway gift card so that he would have access to something to eat.
Control Alt Delete helps with immediate needs of those escaping domestic violence. We remove the barriers that often keep them in an unsafe environment.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
While I may have worked in the nonprofit field for years, I have never opened a nonprofit or business before. I am learning so much! There have been times when I felt overwhelmed but then I will hear from a survivor that if she had this service available to her she would have escaped much sooner.
Right now, the largest hurdle is connections. We are providing cab rides, gas cards and hotel rooms. As of 9/28/2019, we have not launched to DV shelters or law enforcement and are getting calls for help. Frequently.
Pricing:
- A $5 contribution will cover a cab ride or gas card
- A $25 contribution will cover a BIN Bin (basic immediate needs) – a container full of hygiene and other necessities.
- A $50 contribution will help cover the cost of a hotel room
- A $100 contribution will help cover storage and a moving company
Contact Info:
- Address: Control Alt Delete
3061 E. Mallory Street
Mesa, AZ 85213 - Website: Control Alt Delete
- Phone: 4802956963
- Email: dv.controlaltdelete@gmail.com
- Instagram: dv.ctrlaltdel
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dv.ctrlaltdel
- Other: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-those-fleeing-domestic-violence
Image Credit:
Milly Myers
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