April 2022 marked the 21st national Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and Crisis Line & Safe House was busy raising community awareness through attending local events, social media campaigns, and fundraising.
Crisis Line & Safe House had a weekly presence at Thomas Library in Fort Valley, Mulberry Market in Macon, and Byron Public Library. Crisis Line & Safe House also had a table at the Wesleyan College Health Fair, the monthly Wesleyan Market, and at “Yoga for a Cause” at Homegrown Yoga, which hosted a benefit class and silent auction for Crisis Line & Safe House. Traditionally Take Back the Night is held in April, but due to the pandemic it has not been held since 2019. On April 28th, there was a table at the Office of Veterans Affairs in Macon, and later that evening, the quarterly Women Warrior’s Book Club was hosted. For more information about Crisis Line & Safe House in the community or for information about the Women Warrior’s Book Club, contact Annelise Vanderheyden at (478) 745-9292 or avanderheyden@cl-sh.org.
In another effort to raise awareness during April, Crisis Line & Safe House hosted a social media campaign that highlighted different agencies and local businesses showing their support of Crisis Line & Safe House and sexual assault awareness. Find them on our Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter pages wearing the 2022 Survivor Strong T-Shirt. If you are interested in your business participating next year or would like to inquire about your own survivor strong t-shirt, contact Margaret Howard at (478) 745-9292 or mhoward@cl-sh.org.
In Warner Robins, the Belk Charity Days were held. This is an event that Belk puts on for local charities to raise money. The charities sell tickets that give buyers a discount in store, and the proceeds from selling the tickets go 100% to the charity that sells it. Crisis Line & Safe House has been participating in this fundraiser event for three years. In years past, individuals throughout the agency took turns selling tickets at the Belk in Macon, but this year, the sexual assault program is talking the lead at the Belk in Centerville. It is run by part-time sexual assault staff, who take part in a little friendly competition to see who can sell the most tickets for Crisis Line & Safe House. “They enjoy it. It is fun for them and encourages more sales,” said Shannon Morgan, the Advocacy Coordinator in Houston County, who arranges Crisis Line & Safe House’s participation in Belk Charity Days. Tickets were $5. The shop early option was until April 27th– this means that you could shop online or in-store but could not pick up your items. The dates for the primary sale were April 29th-May 1st. Our part-time advocates were outside the men’s department through April 29th.
The Crisis Line & Safe House Sexual Assault Program has SANE nurses and advocates on staff who provide forensic medical exams, law enforcement interview accompaniment, and follow-up advocacy services in Central Georgia. If you or a loved one are in need of our services, call our 24/7 hotline at (478) 745-9292.
