Twenty-one years ago, a woman opened her two-bedroom home to those needing a safe place to stay. That gesture was the beginning of My Sister's Place, a shelter for domestic violence victims.

Since then, My Sister's Place, once staffed solely by volunteers, has grown into a community agency serving Athens, Hocking and Vinton counties, said Katy McCune, the shelter's program director.

My Sister's Place now can accommodate 10 clients and encompasses workers and counselors as well as volunteers, she said. But volunteers always have played a crucial role, she said.

Vaneeta Palecanda, an Ohio University visiting assistant professor in English and women's studies, is one of 30 current volunteers.

Palecanda has been volunteering since April and does tasks such as filing papers and playing with clients' children, she said.

"I spend a lot of time with the children," she said. "We draw and read books. I have even learned new games

from them."

The main purpose of the shelter is to create a comfortable atmosphere for victims of domestic violence, she said. To achieve this, the center strives for anonymity to ensure women's safety. Palecanda did not wish to be photographed in order to maintain this confidentiality.

"It's about creating a safe place - a sense of home," she said. "The women don't know what it is like to be in an atmosphere where there isn't any tension."

Palecanda and other volunteers accomplish this by doing everyday things to provide clients with a sense of stability, she said.

Although she looks forward to spending time with clients, Palecanda said she knew volunteering at a domestic violence shelter wasn't going to be easy. Sometimes it can become overwhelming, she said. Each week, she leaves with a different frame of mind.

"I see and know people of all ages and different walks of life,"

she said.

McCune, who oversees the volunteer program, said Palecanda is an excellent role model.

She is able to separate from the teacher-student relationship and work with OU students who also

volunteer at the shelter, she said.

McCune also said the process

of choosing volunteers is very

selective.

Applicants first must have an interview before going through a screening process. If selected, applicants attend training sessions before starting. Volunteers are required to commit to four hours a week for an entire year, McCune said.

Palecanda said this commitment has helped her bring reality into the classroom.

"Students who volunteer can see how to bridge community with

academia," she said. "I think the same goes for me."