As October shines a spotlight on Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Hope Crisis Center is inviting the community to help make a difference in survivors’ lives by donating to its Purple Bin Project.
Hope Crisis Center provides vital aid to those fleeing domestic abuse and is determined to continue its life-saving work despite recent budget cuts. The center offers a variety of services, including legal advocacy, safety planning, bilingual advocacy, financial assistance and assistance obtaining shelter for survivors of domestic abuse.
The organization has locations in Seward, Crete, York, Fairbury and Beatrice.
The center is collecting laundry/dish/hand soap, Clorox wipes, napkins, plastic silverware, conditioner, cleaners, paper bowls, kitchen trash bags, bath towels, hair brushes, pillows, gallon/quart storage bags, Walmart gift cards, gas gift cards and more in purple bins throughout the month.
Maribel Jimenez, bilingual victim advocate at HCC in Crete, said providing these items removes one of the many barriers survivors have to overcome while escaping a domestic violence situation. Victims often run from dangerous situations with only their clothes on their backs and are not able to go back home to get their personal items.
“They're going through so much that we don't want them to worry about having to spend so much money on these things,” she said. “And, the way the economy is right now, these things add up quite a bit. Financially, they're starting over, and most of them don't have the funds to pay for all these items, so it's nice to at least just to get started they don't have to worry about it.”
Shannon Koranda, victim advocate at HCC in Seward, said Hope Crisis Center has had to ramp up its fundraising lately because the amount it gets from its Victims of Violent Crime Act Grant, which is its main source of funding, was cut by about $130,000.
She said there will likely be another cut coming within the next year or so.
When people give items to help the locations restock their shelves, it frees up more money to be spent on other things. Koranda said providing temporary shelter is a big expense for Hope Crisis Center, and the center is working to provide the same services as in recent years despite recent budget cuts.
“As we provide shelter and get people out of these abusive situations, the more we can provide for them, the more successful they'll be,” Koranda said.
There will be purple collection buckets outside of the Crete location at 108 E. 11th St. and inside the Seward Police Department. The buckets will be available for donations from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jimenez asks that people who want to give monetary donations bring them in to whoever is in the office.
Seward Police Chief Brian Peters said the Seward Police Department often recommends Hope Crisis Center’s services to victims or calls the center for them.
“We obviously deal with enough domestic violence cases that have witnessed the effects that domestic violence has on families, women and children,” he said. “When we were asked if we would like to support the cause by putting a purple bin out, it was kind of a no-brainer.”
If you are experiencing domestic violence, Hope Crisis Center has a 24-hour hotline, 1-877-388-4673, and a text line, (402) 971-0855.
