BRENTWOOD — Deborah and Paul Spinola are utilizing land they inherited from a relative to transform the lives of women in crisis by helping them gain self-esteem and economic independence.
That relative was a victim of domestic violence for many years, but she gained the courage to leave the unhealthy situation.

The couple donated a portion of their 19 acres and a warehouse off the Byron Highway to an established nonprofit organization called Safe Havens for Little People. With the support of Spinola Farm & Nursery and Beyond the Terrace, Safe Haven's founder, Karen Justice-Guard, has moved the organization's headquarters, retail store and factory from Central County to East County after a yearlong hiatus.

The front of the warehouse holds the store that sells home decorations, Christmas pieces and garden items. The store also promotes the organization's own line of products, including bottled water, gourmet sauces, themed gift baskets, aromatherapy, scented candles and a bath collection.
As a certified welfare-to-work program, Safe Havens offers internships in retail sales, marketing, distribution and aromatherapy. Justice-Guard hopes to incorporate day care, housing and education into the program.

She said she believes her clients must be taken out of their environments to see results. Her knowledge about abused women who are on welfare or dealing with drug and alcohol addictions comes from personal experience.

"Because I have lived it and went through it, I know what it takes to change a person," Justice-Guard says. "We are the educational side of teaching people to work."

Justice-Guard survived domestic violence, welfare, being a single mother and drug and alcohol abuse before founding Safe Havens in 1998. She says it took time to overcome these obstacles because of the shame associated with them.

When she began helping other women in similar situations, one of her first clients was her identical twin sister. Kirn Justice-Meyer says that after losing her successful business, expensive home and husband, she turned to drugs.

Meanwhile, Justice-Guard raised her sister's children and used a $100,000 inheritance to launch the organization that eventually turned her twin's life around.

The nonprofit formerly had a factory, store, cafe and catering company in Walnut Creek and Concord. Together, the sisters built up the organization and started a home and garden beautification business in association with it called Instant Curb Appeal.

"I wanted it to come full circle," Justice-Guard says. "I want to tell these women, 'I'm no better and I'm no worse than you are. You have choices.' It's a work in progress, but you need the support behind you."

Justice-Guard calls the new location "a rebirth" for Safe Havens. There are plans for a restaurant, a bed-and-breakfast, catering business, rental site for weddings, day spa and even a healing herb garden in honor of the Spinolas' deceased relative. The woman loved gardening, and her land was left in a family trust called the Garden Trust.

On Christmas Eve, Justice-Guard delivered three truckloads of gifts to a local emergency shelter. Her main goal now is to partner with other nonprofit organizations to further the mission of Safe Havens.

"We are looking for people who have their hearts in the right place. You have to change the body, mind and soul of the person," she says. "We need board members who are financially invested."

Justice-Guard's memoir is be- j ing published with the working title, "Keep Showing Up: Healing and Living Beyond Welfare and Abuse." A movie of the week based on her life story is being pitched to the Lifetime and CBS networks.

"People want to help," Deborah Spinola says. "They just need to know we are here."

Reach Paula King at 925-779-7189 or pking@cctimes.com.