Posted 08/09/2022
ALBANY, Aug. 09, 2022 – This June, the Mechanicville Area Community Service Center tees off at the Saratoga Lake Golf Club to take on domestic violence.
The Mechanicville Area Community Services Center (MACSC) was established in 1969 as an after-school youth center that provided a safe space for socializing. Since then, the neighborhood resource center has expanded to serve over 6,000 residents of Mechanicville and the surrounding areas. MACSC’s services are far-reaching, offering summer camp programs, before and after school childcare, free income tax preparation, weekly food pantries with fresh produce donated from neighborhood stores, free farmers markets, counseling services, and rental assistance programs.
MACSC likewise includes a Domestic Violence Advocacy Program (DVAP) which provides safe and confidential support to the community. Their services include short-term and long-term safety planning, a domestic violence hotline, and free cell phones for 911 calls. Their legal advocacy includes court accompaniments, attorney consultations, and transportation to court. The DV program hosts support groups, provides referrals to victim services and shelters, and gives youth violence prevention presentations at local schools.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, there has been an increase in violent crimes and the need for services, and domestic violence hotline calls have quadrupled. To raise money to continue providing valuable services to the community, join MACSC at their upcoming fundraising event.
On Saturday, June 25, MACSC will be holding their annual Tee Off Against Domestic Violence event at the Saratoga Lake Golf Club. The day will include golfing, coffee and donuts, hamburgers, hotdogs, beer, prizes, raffle games, and dinner. Every $100 donation buys a round of golf, a golf cart, and access to the day’s events. There will also be a ball drop, where hundreds of golf balls will be dropped from the top of a fire engine ladder onto the course. The ball that gets closest to the hole can win a prize of up to $3,000. Each ball entry is $20. All proceeds from the event will benefit the Domestic Violence Advocacy Program at the Mechanicville Area Community Services Center.