October 3, 2011— The start of Domestic Violence Awareness month brought together top state government official Lt. Governor Sheila Simon and local advocacy partners as the Chicago Metropolitan Battered Women's Network (The Network) ignited a call to action to women, men and children at the James R. Thompson Center Plaza. Executive Director Dawn Dalton and Lt. Governor Simon urged the community to donate their no-longer-used phones to the HopeLine phone drive today through Friday in the Thompson Center atrium to assist domestic violence survivors.
Verizon Wireless is a partner in this effort and will donate $10 to The Network for every phone donated, which The Network will allocate towards its Domestic Violence Court Watch Project. Most of the donated phones will either be refurbished or sold to purchase newer cellular phones for domestic violence survivors. Since 2001, HopeLine has collected more than 8 million phones and awarded more than $10 million in cash grants to domestic violence organizations throughout the country.
By the end of 2011, HopeLine will have donated more than 106,000 HopeLine phones with 319 million minutes of airtime to domestic violence survivors and organizations. More than 36,000 phones were donated to the program last year in Illinois alone, totaling more than 4.5 million minutes in service and more than $100,000 in cash grants to aid domestic violence survivors statewide.
"Most victims of domestic violence don't even know there are options out there," said Dalton. "They don't know that there are shelters, court advocacy services, legal services, counseling for themselves or their children, but they are there. So we're working throughout this month, and of course the rest of the year, to raise awareness."
The notion that domestic violence is a private matter is misleading since it affects families, friends and society as a whole, said Dalton.
"We as a society are made up of individuals, and we get to define-- we all get to define--what we're going to do about this issue," said Dalton. "Everyone has a role."
The part that family, friends and colleagues plays can have a huge impact on domestic violence survivors, said Simon.
"We want to be aware of what we can do as friends so that they can get help; our job as friends is really important," said Simon. "Domestic violence is something that we all have a need to address, and we all have a need to support our friends going through that. We have an opportunity to do something today and take advantage of our great opportunity to communicate, so dig deep into your bag for that cell phone you don't use anymore and let's help spread that awareness because this is the kind of crime where we can identify the perpetrator, where we know the victim, and we have a chance to step in and help."
It is a critical time for everyone to help especially considering dwindling resources for domestic violence services said Kathy Doherty, executive director of Between Friends, a domestic violence agency serving the Rogers Park community.
"Resources have become scarce for all of us. In 2008, Between Friends was able to serve 10,000 men, women and children," said Doherty. "Last year we were only able to serve 6,500 individuals. I don't know about you, but that keeps me awake at night."
Network members and allies including Center for Advancing Domestic Peace, Centro Romero, Connections for Abused Women and their Children, Family Rescue, Korean American Women In Need, Legal Assistance Foundation, Lifespan, Mujeres Latinas en AcciÃ"n, Rainbow House and South Suburban Family Shelter, rallied and showed their support to eradicate domestic violence. A march led by Mujeres Latinas en AcciÃ"n had women, men and young children carrying signs and chanting "Break the Silence! Ni Una Victima Mas!"
For those unable to drop by the Thompson Center but still interested in donating their old cell phones, any Verizon Wireless store will accept the phones. Please check www.verizonwireless.com to find the nearest store.
Since 1980, The Chicago Metropolitan Battered Women's Network has served the needs of domestic violence survivors throughout the Chicagoland area. The Network's chain of membership organizations has played a vital role in ending society's tolerance of domestic violence through advocacy, education, and outreach.