The Lighthouse of Baldwin County Celebrates 25 Years

ROBERTSDALE, Alabama — The Lighthouse of Baldwin County celebrated its 25th anniversary with a luncheon Wednesday at the Baldwin County Central Annex. The event honored all past and present members of the Lighthouse board, including founding executive director Jerry Sommer Davis and his successor Joanne Sheils Barfield. New executive director Rhyon Ervin also took the opportunity to thank the community for supporting the organization and recognizing the work they do.

The Lighthouse / Baldwin Family Violence Shelter in Robertsdale is dedicated to creating a safe, supportive and community-driven environment that stands up against domestic violence. They do this by providing a safe space for victims and survivors, as well as offering various counseling and programs that help to empower individuals.

Lingering effects of the 16-day federal shutdown are forcing one Baldwin County nonprofit to seek emergency funding to keep it afloat. The Lighthouse domestic violence shelter relies on State and Federal grants to subsidize the day-to-day operations of its various programs. It provides a safe place for domestic and sexual assault victims, as well as a 24-hour crisis line and counseling services.

The Lighthouse is a non-profit agency authorized by the District Attorney to serve as the official domestic violence shelter for Baldwin, Monroe, and Conecuh counties in Alabama and also provides a 24-hour crisis line, individual and group counseling, case management, court advocacy services, transitional housing, and prevention education in local schools. It also offers statewide training for law enforcement and medical professionals.