Help End Sexual Violence in Your Community: DONATE

“May the stars carry your sadness away…”
- Chief Dan George

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April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month and in honor of that, I thought I’d share 5 ideas this month for fighting back against sexual violence. Here’s the first one.
Donate!

There are tons of local and national organizations that desperately need resources to continue doing what they do. These organizations provide 24-hour hotlines, hospital advocacy, counseling and support groups, community/school education and prevention, and much more! Government funding of these programs is constantly being cut and many crisis centers are fighting to keep their doors open and their staff paid. Most centers accept online donations (which are tax-deductible). Donate locally or visit RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) to donate to what Worth Magazine deems one of “America’s 100 Best Charities.”
You can also buy great gifts for friends and family that support RAINN by clicking HERE.

And they don’t just need money! Contact your local domestic violence shelter or rape crisis center to find about donating things like:

• Old cell phones that can be converted into emergency phones. These phones will only dial 9-1-1 and the survivor or at-risk person will not be charged any fee.
• Gently-used clothing/bedding – many shelters have beds for survivors of abuse but are running out of things like pillows and blankets.
• Hygiene products like shampoo, toothpaste, new underwear and socks – in hospital situations, survivors are often asked to give up their clothing as part of evidence collection.

Thanks for reading this! Oh, and just so you know, I’m not paid by any of these organizations, including RAINN so this isn’t an advertisement so much as a hope that you might find a few minutes to visit a website and consider donating to a worthy cause!

Stay tuned for more ideas for ending sexual violence in YOUR world…

Much love,

Elizabeth

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