Executive Director Melissa Whitley, along with community members and staff, celebrated 40 years of serving the Barren River Area Development District on Sept. 24. Michael Crimmins/Glasgow News 1
By MICHAEL CRIMMINS
Glasgow News 1
Community members lined the walls and filled the rooms of Hope Harbor’s relatively new Glasgow office on North Race Street to celebrate 40 years of providing essential services to victims of sexual assault in the Barren River Area Development District.
Locally referred to as Dr. Mody’s corner, the Glasgow office is located at 204 N. Race Street. Executive Director Melissa Whitley said the office is one of two satellite offices due to the population density in the area.
“Bowling Green is our main location where we began [but] we also have Franklin and Glasgow, which are our two most populated areas outside the Warren County area,” Whitley said.
Though they were celebrating 40 years of service, Whitley also celebrated the organization’s new office, which they moved into in January 2023, and their increased availability. Before then, Hope Harbor had offices first on Columbia Avenue, then on the second floor of the U.S. Bank building, and then a smaller office space on North Race Street.
“We are commemorating 40 years but also we’re celebrating that we’re able to stay here in this building and have it open for walk-ins and appointments 5 days a week now,” Whitley said. “We have a lot of room for expansion here; there’s a lot of office space not taken up [so] we can add more staff as we need. As long as the services are needed we’re going to be here in the community.”
Hope Harbor “provid[es] non-judgmental and confidential support services to anyone affected by sexual assault.” Its services are free of charge because of state and federal funds the organization receives, Whitley said. Services, ways to get involved and resources are available on Hope Harbor’s website.
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