Each holiday season, the Department of Public Safety participates in a Purple Box campaign to help Rochester area families displaced because of domestic violence. Throughout November, Public Safety hosts purple boxes at locations throughout River Campus and the Medical Center for donations of new toys and items for children and mothers at the Willow Domestic Violence Center. These families have survived trauma, violence, abuse, and relocation and are just beginning their journey to a safe and empowered life.
Tiffany Street, Campus Resource Officer in the Department of Public Safety, helps deliver Purple Box gifts from the University to the Willow Domestic Violence Center on Dec. 19. (University of Rochester photo / Dana Perrin)[/caption]
Public Safety officers join with other law enforcement leaders from Rochester area police departments to help make the holidays a little brighter for those families who are in the shelter, and this year also encouraged other University departments to join in the effort. The response led to a record-setting year for donations, with the following new departments hosting drives:
- River Campus University Health Service
- Wilson Commons Connection
- Sigma Phi Epsilon, University of Rochester
- Office of Trusts, Estates, & Gift Planning Bloch Alumni & Advancement Center
- Lynne Halik, Dr. Tyger Foster, and Dr. Erica Lavere-DiMarco Dentistry for Children & Young Adults
“This year’s Purple Box Toy Drive is the most successful ever and the University community really came through for families at Willow Domestic Violence Center,” said URDPS Investigator Lorri Strem, who is one of the leaders of the University’s involvement in the annual gift drive.
The Willow Center’s Purple Box campaign launches every November in recognition of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
