Sisters Lynda Kosh and Lana Stephens stand alongside a motivational message within the Circle of Care nonprofit center in Greenfield, which they hope will inspire those served by a new organization called Shelter in the Storm. Stephens was motivated to create the nonprofit after witnessing her daughter’s struggles in fleeing an allegedly abusive relationship. She hopes to raise funds for a new shelter at the Cowboy Ball fundraiser Oct. 7.
GREENFIELD — After witnessing the trauma her daughter experienced fleeing what she calls a physically abusive relationship last year, Lana Stephens knew she had to do something to help other victims of domestic abuse.
That’s why the Fairfield woman founded Shelter from the Storm, a nonprofit aimed at helping women and their children escape from abusers.
To raise funds, the new nonprofit is hosting a Cowboy Ball on Oct. 7 at 4 Locos Ranch near Acton on the southeast side of Indianapolis.
Tickets cost $45, which includes a barbecue dinner, dancing and live music, as well as a silent auction, petting zoo and horse rides for all ages.
All proceeds will go toward establishing programming and resources, and eventually a shelter, for Shelter for the Storm.
Stephens reached out to 4 Locos Ranch via social media when looking for a venue and discovered that the owners — Bill and Deanna Barowsky — had also been personally impacted by domestic violence.
Those who have been abused or know someone who has know just how dangerous it can be when fleeing abusive relationships, said Stephens, which is what motivated her to create Shelter for the Storm.
“We’re looking to serve women in Hancock, Johnson and Shelby counties,” said Stephens, who is already connecting three mothers and their children with local resources.
She’s currently seeking out property in Shelby County to create the first shelter with hopes to eventually create shelters in Hancock and Johnson counties. It would be a tremendous blessing if someone could donate land, she said.
Creating a safe space for victims is critical in helping them flee abusive situations, said Stephens.
When her daughter escaped her alleged abuser in May 2022, Stephens said the closest shelter she found that could help her was in Danville.
“My daughter didn’t want to stay with us because we lived very close to where he is,” she recalled.
About 72 hours after her daughter had fled, “he arrived at mine and my husband’s house with his assault rifle on the front seat looking for her,” Stephens said. “She would not have been safe. She needed to be in a shelter.”
Stephens has always had a heart for helping others. As a teen, she wanted to open a home for unwed mothers but hadn’t found the right time to put her full focus into creating a nonprofit until now.
A part-time job led her to the right connections to create Shelter from the Storm, she said.
Stephens was doing temp work at the Circle of Care center, which houses multiple nonprofit offices at 312 E. Main St. in Greenfield, when she was discussing her desire to help domestic abuse victims with her sister, Lynda Kosh, executive director of Meals on Wheels of Hancock County.
Another nonprofit director, Beth Ingle of the Women’s Resource Center of Hancock County, overheard and struck up a conversation with Stephens.
“We realized she had a similar desire to help these women, so it seemed like a logical connection,” said Stephens, who invited Engle and Kosh to serve on her board of directors.
The three women are hoping for a big turnout at the upcoming Cowboy Ball so they can raise enough proceeds to successfully get the nonprofit off the ground.
“When you’re dealing with the types of issues that (domestic abuse victims) have, it can be heart wrenching, and I know the heart and passion my sister has to want to help,” said Kosh, who is lending her own expertise in establishing a nonprofit from the ground up.
“It’s never easy, but we’re willing to do what it takes to keep moving forward,” she said.
For more information about Shelter from the Storm or to purchase tickets to the Cowboy Ball, visit Isa25.org
Stephens said the web address is based on a scripture passage, Isaiah 25:4, which refers to taking shelter in the storm.
