The University’s Department of Public Safety is collecting items throughout November to help survivors of domestic violence and their families in the Rochester area. This is the first year that Public Safety is participating in the Willow Domestic Violence Center’s annual Purple Box campaign to collect new holiday gifts for over 300 children in crisis, so that they may feel a sense of normalcy and hope during the holiday season.
The Willow Center’s Purple Box campaign launches this time each year in recognition of national Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Public Safety Chief Mark Fischer represented the University at an Oct. 26 campaign announcement, joining law enforcement leaders from the Rochester, Brighton, Irondequoit, Gates, Greece, and Ogden Police Departments.
Members of the University community can participate by donating new items to the purple boxes on campus now through Nov. 30. The purple boxes are located in the Public Safety Office at 612 Wilson Blvd.; the Public Safety Crime Prevention Office in Strong Memorial Hospital, located on G-6009; and at the Wilson Commons Connection Office, located on the first floor of Wilson Commons. The Willow Center’s Holiday Wish List (http://willowcenterny.org/help-out/happy-holidays/) outlines the type of donations accepted and most needed.
In the U.S., approximately one in three young women (estimates up to 35 percent) are victims of interpersonal violence; for men it’s one in seven. The Willow Domestic Violence Center in Rochester provides free and confidential services to victims and families, including 24/7 crisis support, counseling, and emergency shelter, in addition to prevention education and training for the community.
For more information about the Department of Public Safety’s participation in the Purple Box campaign, contact Investigator Lorri Strem at 275-7410; Lt. Keri Stein at 276-4736, Officer Tiffany Street at 275-3333, or for Strong Memorial Hospital, Captain Cindy Coates at 273-5022.
