“It’s a time where women can nurture themselves, enjoy good food and conversation, and also network,” Haven for Healing’s co-founder Lee-Ann Trigler said.

The event is about women supporting each other and the community, she said.

The women’s retreat is a fundraiser for Haven for Healing, a non-profit organization that serves the community through education and by providing a safe place to receive alternative healing in a time of need.

The Haven for Healing has been providing alternative energy healing to the South Shore for more than eight years. Run by women and supported by volunteers, the Haven has served thousands and facilitated the healing of their health concerns, Haven for Healing founder Suzanne Hill said.

“The very first Women’s Retreat the Haven for Healing presented in 2001 took place the Saturday following 9/11. Close to 250 women gathered, who were all emotionally distraught, extremely stressed and wondering what in the world was happening to us here in our beautiful country,” Hill said. “What we all felt, by being together, was that we were in just the right place of loving compassion and healing, a place where we felt safe for a few hours.”

The gathering allowed the women to relax and release the tensions that had affected them as nurturers and allowed them to become the nurtured ones, she said.

Ten to 15 workshops will be offered at the event including yoga, dance, foot reflexology, meditating, how to breathe, organizing clutter and a lot of healing therapies, Trigler said.

Between the workshops, women are encouraged to walk the grounds of Camp Kiwanee and “soak in the nature.”

There will be a luncheon at the main lodge complete with white linen tablecloths.

“The day is for women to feel really important, really nourished and fulfilled,” Trigler said. “Our hope is they take that with them.”

Karen Lyons has put together the second annual auction to take place during the retreat. Lyons is in charge of gathering donations, which run the gamut — anything from a free pizza to artwork. She also collects items and puts them together to make themed baskets.

Last year, there were 35 items in the silent auction, and bidding started around $2-$5, she said.

“The silent auction was amazing. All kinds of products were donated,” Lyons said.

Trigler said that after the retreats she has always received positive feedback. Oftentimes, women tell her they are amazed with the energy.

Above all, the event is for women to put themselves first, Trigler said.

“We always put ourselves last,” she said. “It’s to put ourselves first. It’s a guilty free day.”

With the ever growing population of those afflicted with cancer, the Haven hopes to expand services. Participants in the women’s retreat will help to raise the necessary funds to hire a grant writer to aid the center in seeking the funding they need to provide complimentary healing to this population.

“This is going to be my eighth year attending the retreat,” Lyons said. “It is a great day, and it is a great way for women to get together and celebrate being women.”

For more information or to register for this event, visit haven-for-healing.org.