PARIS – REACH, the Rape Education and Crisis Hotline, has been awarded a grant from the Maine Community Foundation to begin an activity-based support group, “Finding Your Heartsongs – Becoming a Thriver.”

The group is for women who are survivors of sexual abuse and sexual assault – whether as children or adults. The goal is to build and maintain personal growth, coping skills and connection to community.

Participants will be offered an experiential form of support to promote self-discovery, new talents and links to community resources in a safe environment.

Activities will broadly focus on physical health, self-care, creative expression and individual strengths. The group will determine what the activities will be at a planning meeting to be held in late May at the REACH office in South Paris.

Possibilities include going to the local gym, taking yoga and tai chi class, massage, journaling/writing exercises, self-defense techniques, dance, making face masks, meditation, free-form art, pottery, collage-making, swimming, hiking, music/drumming, car repair lesson, scrapbooking, herbal remedies, assertiveness techniques and nutritionist presentation. Activities will be led by individuals from the community and survivors with expertise in those areas.

Those who are survivors of sexual abuse or sexual assault, and have completed a survivor support group or have done some personal counseling and want to continue on a healing journey are welcome.

Call the REACH office at 743-9777 or e-mail [email protected] for more information or to register. For more information about the organization and what it does, visit www.reachmaine.org.

REACH has been serving Oxford County and the towns of Bridgton and Harrison since 1981, offering crisis intervention and support services to victims and survivors. Services are free and confidential.

Staff and advocates staff a 24-hour sexual assault support line, 1-800-871-7741, available to individuals who have been sexually assaulted recently or at some time in the past.

Trained educators offer age-appropriate safety programs for students in elementary through high schools and community education; and REACH has a lending library on site.