“We know domestic violence agencies and shelters are hurting now and we’ve stepped up to meet the needs of families that they serve across Indiana,” said John Granby, president–Indiana/Kentucky/Michigan Region, Verizon Wireless. “We don’t ever want a shelter to be forced to turn people away.”

From cash grants to employee matches, Verizon remains committed to helping as many agencies as possible in Indiana.

Just this summer, a number of organizations reported a spike in domestic violence calls for help brought on by the pressure of a souring economy. Agencies began struggling with waiting lists at shelters and extended stays and also experienced increased calls for help to crisis hotlines.

“An organization like ours could not continue with the outreach that we do without support from committed partners like Verizon,” said Melissa Pershing, executive director of The Julian Center, one of the state’s largest domestic violence programs.  “Verizon’s grant is helping us bring families that have been impacted by domestic violence out of poverty and into financial self-sustainability through nationally recognized programs such as Circles of Support and Bridges out of Poverty.”

Funding comes from the Verizon Foundation and through the nationally recognized HopeLine^® program from Verizon Wireless. At Indiana’s 36 company-owned retail stores and through pre-paid mail options, Hoosiers can easily donate no longer used phones and accessories to the HopeLine program.

Verizon provides those refurbished wireless phones and airtime to nonprofit organizations for use by domestic violence survivors, as well as cash grants to local shelters and nonprofits that focus on prevention, awareness and advocacy through those donations.

Last year, 731 phones and more than 2.1 million free minutes were contributed to Indiana shelter residents to make those connections.

“In the recent years of increased financial constraints on government and non-profit budgets, contributions from private sector sources like the Verizon Foundation have become even more important,” said Michelle Bumgarner, director of victim advocacy programs for the Indiana Attorney General’s office.  “While our office assists survivors with services such as the Address Confidentiality Program, the financial support from community partners, like Verizon, helps make the essential and often life-saving work of local advocates and shelters possible.”

(The Address Confidentiality Program is a free service of the attorney general’s office that allows victims of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking to maintain a confidential address.)

Across Indiana, 19 domestic violence organizations are being supported by Verizon, including the following in central Indiana:

• Domestic Violence Network of Greater Indianapolis
• Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence
• The Julian Center
• Muslim Alliance of Indiana
• Salvation Army
• Sheltering Wings Center for Women

“With Verizon’s support, we were able to help 317 Hoosiers who have suffered from domestic violence—including 203 children—escape from a violent situation,” said Susan Solomon, divisional services director for the Salvation Army in Indiana. “Our Emergency Bed Space Program was developed to ensure that when traditional shelter spaces in Indianapolis are full, those fleeing from violence will still have a safe place to go. Without this program, these individuals would have been forced to remain in a violent situation, live in their car or try to access a potentially unsafe situation.”

Verizon is also reminding its more than 500 Indiana employees to give during this time of escalated need. The Verizon Foundation supports personal philanthropic giving made by Verizon employees and retirees. Employees can earn cash grants for the qualified nonprofits where they volunteer at least 50 hours, and can have their charitable donations go further by utilizing the foundation’s Matching Gifts Programs.

“The need is great and the time is now,” Granby said. “We’re asking everyone in our company to step up during Domestic Violence Awareness Month this October, and we hope others follow our lead.”

“I have two words to sum up how my life is at this point: blessed and determined. I say this because just a little while ago things were so complicated and unpromising that I never expected to be where I am today. I have a baby boy born on October 15, 2010 and he means the world to me. Even though I never had a mother who bonded with me like I have bonded with him, I still know I am on the right path to raising my son with love. Things are going so well right now and everything is falling into place. I feel like I am at the point of my life where I am satisfied with who I am and wise enough to have patience to continue to work hard for what I want and need. I have a job that I like, it allows me to be social and polite. I am a waitress at Steak and Shake. It’s not much, but it’s promising and brings in enough for me to pay my bills. I know my future is even brighter because I am accomplishing my goals and I feel good at the same time. All I can say is thank you to The Salvation Army and thank you to all of the counselors and staff who assisted me in my journey to something greater.”

*Names have been changed to protect the confidentiality of the client.

May 9-13: Bite Back Box Fest
Drop off your Bite Back Box donation at 3100 N. Meridian St. from 8am-4pm Monday-Friday during National Salvation Army Week. Box with the largest donation receives a $100 gift card!

May 9: Donation Station – Food Pantries
Show your support during National Salvation Army Week and help stock our Food Pantries! Drop off any canned good or non-perishable food items at 3100 N Meridian St, 8am-4pm.

May 10:  Donation Station – Women and Children’s Shelter
Show your support during National Salvation Army week by donating twin sheets and blankets for our Women & Children’s Shelter. Drop off donations at 3100 N Meridian St, 8am-4pm.

May 11:  Donation Station – Harbor Light Center
Show your support during National Salvation Army week and donate personal hygiene items for our Harbor Light Addiction Recovery Center! Donations will be accepted 8am-4pm at our Headquarters on 3100 N Meridian St

May 12:  Red Kettle Cookout
Join The Salvation Army in celebrating 128 years in Indiana! LIve music, food, games, prizes and more!  Located at University Park in downtown Indy at 300 N Meridian St. from 10am-2pm.  Fun for all ages!

This year’s Summer of Wonder will run from June 1 to August 5 and our theme is “Noah’s Ark.”  The children participate in a wide range of activities, ranging from arts and craft time to horseback riding and trips to all of the local museums!

Want to get involved?  We can always use volunteers to help out with field trips!  We are also always in need of craft and snack donations, bathing suits and towels.  For more information contact Julia Sloope at 317-224-1067 or julia_sloope@usc.salvationarmy.org

Twelve girls in Brownie Troop #2454 of Franklin Twp. embarked on this service project in January, with the intent of collecting items from family and friends. They chose The Salvation Army’s Women & Childrens Shelter because the organization helps more than just victims of domestic violence.

Assistant Leader Kerri Earls contacted a news station to gain exposure for what the girls were doing and hopefully bring some businesses on board with the plan. After Fox 59 featured the story, Kerri says it exploded from there. Not only did the Earls’ spare bedroom quickly begin to fill up with donated items but they had to move some to a storage unit.”These girls have huge hearts for helping others,” says Kerri.

Their enthusiasm spread fast and took the project beyond just the families to inspiring businesses to also give. One mother of a girl in the troop works for The Lumina Foundation. She shared the project at work and on Monday, the shelter received a check from Lumina for $2,500 in honor of the troop.

The project is ongoing until March, which will culminate with a special delivery of the donations to the shelter. At that time, the girls will tour the facility so they can see first-hand how their efforts will be used.

If you’d like to know how you, your group or business can help, call Julia Sloope, Special Projects Coordinator for The Salvation Army Social Service Center – (317)224-1067 or julia_sloope@usc.salvationarmy.org.

Donations can be dropped off anytime at 540 N. Alabama.  Questions?  Contact Julia Sloope at 317-224-1067.

Together we began addressing her anxiety.  We worked on ways to apply for jobs that were less anxiety provoking.  At every meeting with me she always came prepared with new job leads for us to call together or that she’d want me to fax her resume to.  However, every time she would get close to getting an interview, her criminal background would step in.  She never stopped searching.  While job searching, she was working with Midtown, where she went to dual diagnosis groups twice a week.  She also attended AA meetings on a weekly basis.  Erin was very invested in her own recovery; she would talk about her frustration and anxiety about relapsing and finding a job but she never pitied herself.  She was determined to make it.

In April of 2010 we enrolled Erin in our Continuing Support Program.  Erin moved into the Luchille Raines Transitional Housing where she could get more support in her recovery.  The Salvation Army provided rental assistance, bus tickets and other financial help.  She continued to meet with me once a week and started the  HIP (Homeless Initiative Program) Hospitality Program where she learned job searching and computer skills and was connected with job leads.  The program also helped her tackle her social anxiety that had been inhibiting her ability to apply for jobs.  Finally in June, Erin found the right anxiety medicine and regained some of her confidence.  All the while, she never gave up looking for a job.

While at Lucille Raines, she continued working with her HIP and Midtown case managers to find a job.  She continued to attend AA meetings two to three times a week.  Finally, after a year of searching for a job, she was hired at Conseco Field House in December!  She currently works there part time as a cook.  She is also waiting to move into the Boner Center Apartments as part of the Shelter Plus Care Program. 

Since I have been working with her, Erin has never relapsed and takes her recovery very seriously.  Her daughter is currently drinking and Erin has maintained healthy boundaries that she abides by when talking with her daughter.  She is focused on taking care of herself, but she also remembers every that has helped her along the way.

Despite the enormous number of road clocks that were in her way when she came to the shelter, Erin is one of the msot successful clients I have ever worked with.”

*Names have been changed to protect the confidentiality of the client

YOU MUST BE EMPLOYED OR IN SCHOOL TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS PROGRAM!

 Accepting applications Tuesday, November 2, 2010 – Thursday,  December 2, 2010

Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:00pm – 8:00pm
Saturdays from 9:00am – 12:00pm

Closed for Thanksgiving Thursday and Saturday, November 25 & 27

 Application Sites:

The Salvation Army Fountain Square Corps, 1337 S. Shelby Street, 46203
The Salvation Army Eagle Creek Corps, 4400 N. High School Road, 46254
The Salvation Army Center City Ministries, 234 E. Michigan Street, 46204

 The following items are required in order to apply for Christmas assistance:

• Picture ID for all adults in the household
• Social Security Card (or passport, green card) for all adults in the household
• Social Security Card  and Birth Certificate  (or Medicaid card) for each child
• Combined household income statements
• Proof of employment or school status for head of household
• Proof of address

 **Incomplete applications will not be considered**

 Eligible applicants will be invited to a “Toy Shop” where they can choose new gifts for each approved child in the household.

The Indianapolis Foundation

The goal of the Emergency Bed Space program is to mobilize existing space to serve up to 10 families during times when all standard shelters are full.  The collaborative program is administered by The Salvation Army’s Women’s and Children’s Shelter, which compiles bed space availability from all Marion County shelters and sends out a daily e-mail update to all who request it.  The shelter also provides access to emergency bed space, case management and transportation when all other shelters are full. 

According to the Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 1,574 victims of domestic abuse were denied emergency shelter in Indiana from July 2008 – June 2009. In addition, 53 deaths in Indiana were attributable to domestic violence during that same time period.  The Emergency Bed Space program is designed to prevent further unnecessary deaths by ensuring a safe place is always available whenever it is needed for adults and children who are trying to escape domestic violence.   Since the Emergency Bed Space program began in 2003, nearly 1,946 nights of shelter to more than 482 single individuals and to more than 298 families have been provided when all other Marion County shelters were full.

This year interested patrons can also donate money online. All funds collected will be used to purchase new coats for children in need this winter.

Click here to purchase a coat for a kid. 

Are you wondering how you can get one of our new or gently used coats for your child this October?  Simply come to the Toyota Expo Hall at the Indiana State Fairgrounds between 8:00am and 4:00pm on October 30th.  The event is free and open to the public, but remember that your child must be present to receive a coat!

Questions?  Contact Julia Sloope at (317) 224 1067 or julia_sloope@usc.salvationarmy.org.