According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVR), one in five women and one in 71 men will be raped at one point in their lives. In the U.S., rape costs more than any other crime, followed by assault, and creates both short- and long-term impacts on the victim, including post-traumatic stress disorder.
The Chaffin Luhana Foundation, at the request of team member and Paralegal Jessica Szumla, is donating $250 to HealingSPACE at the YWCA in Bergen County, New Jersey, the only sexual violence resource center of its kind in the county. HealingSPACE assists in crisis intervention, provides information and referrals, and offers support to anyone with questions about sexual violence.
Szumla is a current volunteer at HealingSPACE, and notes the good work they do:
“HealingSPACE provides a variety of services to survivors and their loved ones, such as a 24-hour anonymous hotline, and counseling and accompaniments for survivors to hospitals, doctor’s offices, courts, etc.,”
she says. “They partner with other anti-sexual violence organizations in the county to provide survivors and loved ones with additional resources, offer educational programs for schools and businesses, and sponsor activities to raise community awareness about sexual violence.”
HealingSPACE also has a Legal Advocacy Program that provides legal advocacy services and access to legal services to survivors of sexual violence. Their trained advocates are available for support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, “to accompany survivors through medical, legal, or other proceedings associated with sexual violence,” according to their site.
If you would also like to support HealingSPACE in their mission to support survivors, you can make a donation via the information listed below:
HealingSPACE at YWCA Bergen County
214 State Street, Suite 207
Hackensack, NJ 07601
201-345-4616
Contact: Mary Eastwood
Email: healingspace@ywcabergencounty.org
Web: https://www.ywcabergencounty.org/ywca/index.php
To Donate: https://ops1.operations.daxko.com/Features/OnlineGiving/DonationDetails.aspx?cid=4065
