One of the most critical—and dangerous—times in a survivor’s life is when they are fleeing an abusive environment. Many Mary’s Place clients arrive at our doors having traveled by car, bus, and sometimes on foot, to get to safety.

Clients like Aniya* and her two children who traveled more than a thousand miles by bus to get to Mary’s Place after a harrowing escape from Aniya’s unrelenting husband.

Broken and terrified, worried she made a mistake leaving, Aniya gathered strength from her children who heroically reminded her what was waiting for them at their destination in Grand Forks: freedom.