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Hankla opened own home to domestic violence victims

BY ADAM TESTA, THE SOUTHERN

Sunday, September 14, 2008 10:55 PM CDT

ANNA - When Millicent Hankla returned to her native home of Anna after a career that took her all over the country, she realized something wasn't right.

She noticed a lack of resources for women and children who found themselves in abusive and uncomfortable situations and the community didn't even recognize the problem.

"People said, 'I've never heard of people being abused around here.' I said, 'Well, I think they have,'" she said. "When I came here, there had been like 110 cases of domestic violence reported and only about two made it to the judge. I said, 'Something's wrong here.'"

Hankla, now 80, didn't only recognize the problem, but she worked to fix it. She started an effort to create a resource center to provide basic services like food, shelter, clothing and support to women in need.

The end result became Bethany Village, which operates transitional apartments, a food pantry, a thrift store and staff to provide support services. But even before Bethany Village officially opened in 2000, Hankla made sure women had a place to go.

"She opened her home as the first shelter here in Union County because there was none available," said Bonnie Barnhart, executive director of Bethany Village. Barnhart has been a part of the project since the beginning, when she became its first paid employee.

Hankla's dedication to improving services for woman and children extends far beyond Bethany Village. She has appeared before the United Nations advocating for the cause and continues to lobby at state and federal levels.

Closer to home, she was also involved in the founding of Two Rivers Child Advocacy Center in Anna. The center provides services to children in a six-county area who are victims of child sexual and serious physical abuse.

"They don't keep me awake at night, but they keep my life worthwhile," Hankla said of her many community service and human rights efforts. "I get out of bed in the morning and say, 'Let's see what we can get done today.'"

For those who know Hankla, they recognize her commitment and believe her passion has inspired others and will continue to do so.

"It's been her lifelong commitment and it will continue to be her commitment," Barnhart said.

adam.testa@thesouthern.com / 351-5031