For many of us, the holidays are a happy time of warmth and family. For battered women and children, this season is especially difficult. Violence increases this time of year, and more women are forced to flee their homes. These women are barely able to make ends meet and do not have the money for gifts. The Riley Center strives to provide two modest gifts of $15-$30 for each woman and child under our care, so that even though they may wake up at a shelter, they will still have presents under the tree Christmas morning.