The idea of the I SEE YOU box: a small box, filled with 16 restorative self-care items for women in domestic violence shelters and an encouraging note written by a volunteer, began in May of 2020.

This box is more than toiletries. It is more than shampoo, toothpaste, and  soap. It is purposeful. It is a box holding dignity, self-esteem, and love.

According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, a typical day has more than 20,000 phone calls placed to hotlines nationwide. 1 in 15 children are exposed to domestic violence. Victims of intimate partner violence lose a total of 8,000,000 days of paid work each year, the equivalent of 32,000 full-time jobs. In Texas, our average is higher than the national average of victims: 1 in 3 women and 1 in 7 men are affected by intimate partner violence in their lifetime.

The response of Hagar’s Heart is simple: provide the “I See You” box for a survivor to begin recognizing how they are seen in this world; that worth comes from within; and they are loved for who they were made to be.

To date, Hagar’s Heart has provided 3,219 “I See You” boxes to survivors. From 238 “I See You” boxes in 2020 to averaging 127 every month, we need your support more than ever.

One box costs $25. In 2023, with our current DV partnerships, we are averaging 120 “I See You” boxes a month. This is a grand total of $36,000 a year.