According to
the Georgia Commission on Family Violence, more than 42,000 incidents of family
violence were reported in 2024. Nearly a third of those incidents were
committed with a child present. In Central Georgia, when victims of domestic
violence need a safe place to shelter, WINGS is there to help.
WINGS is a state-certified shelter that helps families break free from violence. For more than 30 years, the organization has offered a family violence program to victims in seven counties across central Georgia — Laurens, Bleckley, Dodge, Johnson, Telfair, Wilcox, and Wilkinson.
"There is no 'typical' domestic violence victim. You can be a strong woman who grew up in a supportive household or a pastor's wife and still experience fear in your own home," says Heather Mullis, Executive Director of WINGS. "When a woman's home is no longer a safe place, our shelter offers immediate safety, stability, and support."
The organization's 24-hour help line provides resources, guidance, and a caring listener. For victims and their children who are in immediate danger, WINGS operates an 18-bed emergency shelter. More than just a temporary place to stay, WINGS offers a comprehensive support system, including:
- Creating a personalized safety and recovery plan
- Assigning advocates who provide emotional support, guidance, and case planning
- Providing essentials such as meals, clothing, and hygiene items
- Teaching family empowerment skills
- Delivering age-appropriate education throughout the community
- Supplying advocates that help clients navigate the legal system
The ultimate goal of the program is to help clients become self-sufficient and provide a safe and stable home for themselves and their children. WINGS recently helped a mom and her teenage son escape a violent and abusive situation in which she was prevented from working outside the home. WINGS helped her get into a transitional housing program. Now she has a job and she's up for a promotion. Her son is in school, has a part-time job, and is looking forward to college.
"For me, the most rewarding part is watching someone come in depressed, scared, and broken down, and leave as a completely different person — confident, cared for, and finally able to enjoy things like a new haircut or a bit of jewelry," says Heather. "When a client says, 'This is the first time I have felt heard,' that's when I know we've made a difference."
Visit the WINGS website for more information.
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About Cingo: The name Cingo means to surround and secure, conveying the company's commitment to home protection. The company has been protecting families in the Southeast since 1974. It provides home protection services throughout Georgia and South Carolina, including Atlanta, Augusta, Charleston, Douglas, Dublin, Milledgeville, Savannah, Vidalia, Waycross and all points in between. Cingo was named a Best Place to Work in Georgia by Georgia Trend Magazine and listed as a National Best & Brightest Company to Work For. Learn more at www.cingohome.com.