Women's safety instructor launches new non-profit
Reno, NEV. (NEWS 4) — She is known in the community for her Women's Shooting Academy and Safety Seminars, but Vicki Kawelmacher is adding to her list of passions and she's ready to get the community involved.
The Help Me Help Her campaign is just getting off the ground in Reno, but Kawelmacher hopes to take her mission to the next level.
The Women's Shooting Academy opened in Reno nine years ago.
Owner and founder, Kawelmacher had one goal: to teach women to shoot a target, rather than become one.
However, over the years she realized that not all women are comfortable with firearms.
"I knew that I had to do more than just teach women how to shoot a gun," explains Kawelmacher.
In hopes of reaching more women in our community and across the country, she is launching a new non-profit called, Help Me Help Her.
In addition to the Women's Shooting Academy, Kawelmacher holds safety seminars in northern Nevada on a regular basis. Her goal is to eventually provide the seminar free of charge to women across the nation.
"You can own your safety, you can embrace it," she said.
Part of the Help Me Help Her campaign is sharing other women's stories of survival.
While many women who have escaped abusive relationships aren't willing to talk about their nightmares on camera, or even at all, Cindy is ready.
"My husband verbally and physically abused me; he always knew how to abuse me physically in areas where it wouldn't show," she said. "There was sexual abuse, but I never felt like there was the option to leave."
Cindy did find the strength to leave and is one of many women who are sharing their stories, because they have had enough of the dangerous cycle.
"If it helps one college age girl make a different choice or recognize that she's in a relationship that she needs to remove herself from, then it's worth it," explains Cindy.
"I'm proud, it's emotional. because I see her pain, but I see the healing she has come through.... we're better together!," says Kawelmacher.
