Three awards is an unusual haul. For Merryman House, which has served domestic violence survivors in western Kentucky for more than 40 years, the recognition reflects an organisation that has learned to run every part of its operation well.
The Paducah-based domestic crisis centre received three Purple Ribbon Awards, the annual honours distributed by DomesticShelters.org to recognise outstanding work in the domestic violence field. Merryman House took home honours for Hotline Employee/Operator of the Year, Annual or Impact Reports of the Year, and Outstanding Fundraising Event for the PaDucky Derby.
Balinda Hudson, who operates the organisation's crisis hotline, was named Hotline Employee of the Year. The hotline is often the first contact a survivor has with the centre — and, in many cases, the first time a person in danger speaks to someone trained to help.
The PaDucky Derby, Merryman House's annual fundraiser held at Noble Park, earned its own award. The event pits 20,000 rubber ducks against each other in a race for cash prizes, drawing enough community participation to fund a meaningful share of the centre's programming.
Director of Community Engagement Kayla Myers said the awards highlight "the excellence" of the organisation's board, accountability, and its ability to bring people together around a cause that is easy to overlook. Merryman House is the only certified domestic violence programme in the Purchase Area Development District, covering eight counties including McCracken.
The centre's funding mix — grants, donations, and community events — keeps it independent of any single source of support. That matters in a region where state budgets for social services rarely rise as fast as need.