One in four girls and one in six boys can expect to be sexually assaulted by the time they are adults. This statistic is startling and disheartening. I have  dedicated a large portion of my life to working to eradicate sexual violence.

I have been involved in sexual assault prevention work in some capacity since 2006 and have been volunteering for the Sexual Violence Center since September of last year. The work that this organization does (prevention, counseling, hospital and legal advocacy, crisis line, education) is important and necessary in our fight to affect positive social change and end sexual violence. Every service the Sexual Violence Center provides is absolutely free of charge and therefore eliminates many barriers victim/survivors face to getting help.

The Sexual Violence Center empowers our community by providing prevention and intervention services to all people affected by sexual violence. Individual donations received by the Sexual Violence Center are used to sustain the direct services and outreach the agency provides to victims/survivors of sexual violence and their family and friends. Money may be used for basic operations such as utilities, telephone service, and office supplies to staff salaries, website maintenance, mileage reimbursement for volunteers, volunteer trainings and information packets. Volunteers are the backbone of the agency, answering the crisis line, providing one-to-one counseling, co-facilitating support groups and providing crisis advocacy at hospital emergency rooms to sexual assault victims. Time volunteered at SVC ,when translated into dollars (if the agency had to hire someone to provide these direct services) is well over $350,000 per year.

I can say from personal experience that this organization is very important in our struggle to create a safe community for everybody. Please give what you can to help out!