A Big Gift

Charles Keenan, whose family owned the former Waltham Chemical Co. before selling it to Rawlins Industries in 2010, had on his hands a large 1900 home at 368 Broad St. in New London that had once served as offices for his company. Parking is limited and Keenan recognized the old home would not be an easy sell.

Enter Safe Futures, a nonprofit group that assists victims of domestic violence. It needed more space.

As recently reported, the Keenan family donated the two-family home appraised at $254,000, to Safe Futures, even allotting the money for upcoming property taxes. Safe Futures plans to move some of its offices there. That in turn will allow the organization to undertake its plan to open a Family Justice Center at its 16 Jay St. headquarters.

Family justice centers provide a safe place for victims of domestic violence to handle the multiple issues they face in the most stressful of times — finding housing, getting counseling, avoiding school interruptions for children, working with the court system among them.

The community’s appreciation is due the Keenans for their generosity and to the folks at Safe Futures for their important work.

It is also a sobering reminder that domestic violence does not take the holidays off. Though statistics don’t seem to back the perception that domestic violence increases during the holidays, the abuse and violence that is experienced by victims may be exacerbated by the financial stress and alcohol consumption that often accompany them.

How important, then, to have angels in waiting.