Local

Union Co. small business helps make domestic violence shelter safer during COVID-19

UNION COUNTY, N.C. — A domestic violence shelter in Union County was looking for ways to make the shelter safer during the COVID-19 pandemic, and it got some help from a small business in town.

Turning Point told Channel 9 that it saw a drop in women seeking help during the beginning of the pandemic because victims were secluded at home and not able to leave.

But it said victims were also apprehensive to seek help at the shelter because of the virus.

“When you come to a shelter, you’re in a place with a lot of other people. And people don’t feel safe doing that, so we definitely saw a decline in that,” said Jennifer Sanford, with Turning Point.

The shelter asked AdvantaClean in Monroe to give it an estimate of what it will cost to clean the air ducts.

The owner said a lot of businesses are using their services to prevent the spread of COVID-19. But when he got to the shelter and saw the work Turning Point is doing, he decided to provide his service for free. The job, which took 55 hours to complete, normally costs $5,000.

“Nonprofits aren’t able to do the normal things they would do to raise funds,” said AdvantaClean owner Lyle Nearby. “The money that it would cost to clean these air ducts -- they could probably feed a family for however long. A long time.”

Turning Point said it will use the money saved to help families in Union County where 1 in 4 people experience domestic violence.