January 2026 Newsletter

InterAct's new Financial Literacy for Life program will give survivors of domestic violence the tools to create financial stability for themselves and their families, further empowering them on the journey towards safety and security.

Participants will include InterAct's shelter and community clients who are receiving case management and rental assistance under Rapid Rehousing. Clients will be referred for financial counseling, beginning with a workshop and moving through one-on-one sessions.

Watricia Schuler, a financial wellbeing coach with Operation Hope, will provide the financial counseling services. 

To begin the program, she led a workshop for InterAct case managers to expose them to the information she will be sharing.

Following an entertaining and informative introduction, Watricia outlined the six foundational concepts of financial literacy: 

income, budget, savings, credit, debt, and investment.

She discussed shadow work--recalling what your family taught you about money--setting financial goals, and credit reporting.

Watricia is both an entrepreneur with small business experience and a college professor. Her life's mission is to empower individuals through education and access to financial tools and resources.

Watricia sees two major issues when working with clients on financial literacy.

"The cost of living and the lack of enough income is a major barrier," she said.  "People have trouble wrapping their head around the idea that they need sufficient income, and that might mean two incomes."

For people who have a sufficient income, the psychology of spending is the major issue. "We need to find out what triggers them to spend, and put things into place to avoid that spending," Watricia said.

InterAct's Financial Literacy for Life program is part of three-pronged approach to making clients successful. In addition to financial counseling, clients receiving case managment will have access to legal advice and therapeutic services.

Dear Holiday Bazaar Gift Card Donors,

With hearts full of gratitude, we extend our deepest thanks for your generous donation of holiday gift cards to survivors of domestic and sexual violence and their families. Your compassion and faith in action have brought hope, dignity, and light during a season that can be especially challenging for those we serve.

Survivors often face a myriad of overwhelming challenges, including complex legal issues, housing instability or homelessness, isolation, shame, physical injuries, deep emotional trauma, and financial insecurity. In the midst of these hardships, your generosity served as a powerful reminder that they are not forgotten and that their community cares deeply for their well-being.

Because of your support, survivors were able to purchase gifts of their own choosing for their children and loved ones. This freedom of choice is profoundly meaningful as it fosters a sense of empowerment, restores autonomy, and affirms the dignity of individuals who have had so much taken from them. Your gift did far more than meet a practical need; it helped restore a sense of control and hope during a difficult time.

Your kindness helped lighten heavy burdens and brought moments of joy and normalcy to families who are rebuilding their lives. We are deeply thankful for your partnership and your open-handed commitment to uplifting survivors in our community.

May you all be richly blessed in this new year and beyond for the generosity you have shared and the lives you have touched.

Most sincerely,

Rhonda G. Raney

Executive Director, InterAct                                                                             

The Ethels of AARP

Aquatic Management Group

Aquatec

Associates in Women's HEalthcare

Blue Lotus Yoga

Circle K

CTI

Debbie Moose

Faye Senter

Feazel, Inc.

First Cary UMC Agape Circle

Foster Lake and Pond Management

Giles+Flythe Engineers

Green Level Baptist Church

Greenscape

Greenview PArtners

HD Contracting

Ida Mills

Jamie Gabriel

Joey Cloney

Jordan Price Law Office

Kilmor

Linda Flippo

Mint Condition

Monster Tree Service

Nation Association of University Women

Power On Electrical Services

PPM

Prestonwood Country Club Lifetime Swim Club

Ruppert Companies

St. Paul's Christian Church Women's Missionary Society

Scott Grady CPA

Southeast Aquatics Group

Southern Outdoor Restoration

Susan Davenport

TCR Plumbing

Team Pest USA

Triangle Regulatory Publishing

Watts Chapel Missionary Baptist Church

Western Wake Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc

Thank you to the volunteers who spent their Saturday at InterAct's Holiday Bazaar during the lead-up to Christmas.  They were organized, cheerful, gracious and so kind to our families.  We recently received an online review from one client, and her thanks should go straight to all our volunteers:

"I am extremely grateful for the support my family has received. I am soo appreciative of my family and I being invited to the holiday Bazaar as well. My children were able to pick out gifts, and we all received gift cards for the holidays. I just want to say that Interact was a blessing during a dark time. Thank you."

Those of us working the gift card table heard so much joy and thankfulness:

“We’re going right now to get some new shoes.”

“The kids really loved the hot chocolate.”

“I love y’all. I love this place.”

“My daughter really wanted a bike and now I can get her one.”

“This place has changed my life. If you really want to change, it can change your life.”

“Thank you. We are so much better now. When I think of what things were like just a few months ago…”  

Thanks to our volunteers

The Ethels of AARP

Amy Bason

Angela Powell

Beau Spillane

Blair Vanhook

Brittany Townsend

Claire LeBesque

Deena B are and family

Dominique Dykes

Emily Lambert

Jamie Gabriel

Jennifer Mastrapasqua

Jeramie Hockman

Joey Cloney

Julie Cox

Kathy Lundholm

Kyrsten Mougey

Lauren Prosser

Lindsey Hack

Lisa Byers

Maia Heath

Phyllis McCoy

Sully Powell

Walker Mabe

Your generosity fuels InterAct's impact.

Our end of year campaign, The Time Is Now, is drawing to a close, but there is still time to give.  For some of you, giving in 2026 is a smarter tax move than giving in 2025. 

There a number of non-cash giving avenues available on our donation page (along with opportunities to give with credit or debit cards, PayPal, Venmo, or ACH transfer). 

Thank you for standing with survivors and being a force for healing and prevention.

• Carolina Preserve Cares, Inc.
• First Church of God Ministries
• FMI Corporation
• Food Lion Charitable Foundation
• Mattress Advisor
• Millbrook UMC Methodist Men
• Mungo Homes Foundation
• Publix Supermarket Charities

• R. Scott Grady CPA, LLC
• St. Michael's Episcopal Church
• SheNC
• Three Ships, LLC
• United Methodist Women of North Raleigh UMC
• UNC Health Rex
• United Way of the Greater Triangle

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