Support a Family in our Community after Hate Crime

UPDATE: Thank you to everyone who has donated, shared, joined in the peace rally, or sent messages of support for Matt & Donna. The donations up to this point have helped greatly with expenses due to Matt's missed work and medical needs.

But, this fight for justice continues as Matt is still facing ongoing health issues from the attack with medical expenses and now he has been called into court by the State of Ohio along with his attacker. Matt has a pending court trial to prove to the court that he was the ONLY victim in this incident and to call his attacker to justice. He and Donna have done all they can to get all the documentation from the 911 call, ambulance care, hospital care, photos of injuries, and any other police reports … but, they do not have the funds for the attorney retainer fee or full attorney payment ALONG with keeping up with their other shop/personal bills and expenses. These attorney fees can exceed a few thousand dollars. It is VERY important that he has legal representation to present his evidence in proving the crime committed by his attacker.

Any level donation will help as they have been granted a continuance until November 2nd, 2023. So, they will need assistance in covering their normal expenses during this time to have the additional funds to pay for the lawyer. Additionally, you can donate IN PERSON at the Cincinnati Witches' Ball at the Leapin' Lizard on Saturday, October 21st and you can patronize their Tuscarora Moon booth at the ball to support them. Thank you, again, to everyone!! And, lets continue to build a stronger community of togetherness with acts of unity.

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This is a rallying call to the pagan community and all others at large.

The Ohio Valley Pagan Society was created with the goal of building a stronger community of togetherness with acts of unity. An event happened yesterday that in our eyes can not go unanswered.

A member of our OVPS team, Matt Penick was violently attacked in front of his and his wives store Tuscarora Moon in College Corner, Ohio yesterday 8/27/2023. The attackers called them out for being pagans and hanging LGBTQ+ Pride flags. There were a number of incidents that led up this event. One of them came into their store when his Wife Donna Penick was working and said “We used to burn witches like you.” And there have also been various other verbal harassment on their Facebook page Tuscarora Moon, for supporting the LGBTQ+ community.

A police report has been filed but they won't do anything stating that the other assailant Jeff VanWinkle is trying to claim that if Matt continues to file an assault charge, that Jeff will also file one. Apparently this Van Winkle family has a bit of authority in the town of College Corner. Anybody that know Matt and Donna knows they are some of the most non violent and non confrontational people you could meet. Donna is now scared to even go back to her shop for fear of also being attacked.

This Saturday at 2:00pm at Tuscarora Moon, 4 Main St, College Corner, OH 45003, we will stand with them at their store to show them that we have number and they are not alone. We will conduct a ritual of peace. Now is not the time to hide or be afraid of being Pagan or LGBTQ+. Now is the time that we need to stand together against hatred. The world need to see that we have numbers. The world needs to see that we are not going anywhere.

Due to this horrible act of violence, financial difficulty due to store closure (hopefully temporary), medical bills and lawyer fees, is a big issue. PLEASE JOIN MYSELF IN SUPPORTING THESE AMAZING PEOPLE, LETS' RALLY!