Santa's Sack is up and running in three locations from Dec. 12 - Dec. 22, 2012. The annual festive holiday program offered by SafeHaven of Tarrant County ensures that families protected by the battered women's shelter have Christmas despite their tragic situation. You may drop off toys, books, clothes, gift cards and more at the following locations:

SafeHaven staff and volunteers will set up a Christmas Store at its shelter for women and children to"shop' from donations given at the aforementioned locations. The gifts are free to all families living in the shelter during the holiday season. There were 25 domestic violence-related homicides in Dallas this year and 19 in Tarrant County last year, which left 20 children without mothers. Domestic violence is prevalent in the Metroplex, but our communities are committed to providing Christmas to even the smallest victims of family violence.

SafeHaven of Tarrant County is a nonprofit organization that exists to end family violence through safety, support, prevention and social change. SafeHaven's two emergency shelters, one in Arlington and one in Fort Worth, accommodate a combined 174 women and children, making SafeHaven one of the largest shelters in Texas. In 2012, the two shelters with 174 beds were at or over capacity for 155 days in Arlington and 133 days in Fort Worth days, approximately 40% of the year.

For more information on how you can help, visit our website at www.safehaventc.org or call 817 535-6462. For immediate assistance regarding domestic violence, please contact the 24 hour toll-free crisis hotline at 1-877-701- SAFE (7233).