Community Statewide Push to Help Sexual Assault Treatment Centers as Scott Cuts Funding

BRADENTON – Sexual abuse survivor and advocate Lauren Book this week launched a statewide push to make communities aware of the critical needs of their local sexual assault treatment centers and get those needs met. 

”These centers provide a vital service at one of the worst moments of a person’s life – when they have been victimized by sexual violence,“ said Lauren Book.  ”Many of Florida’s centers do not even have toilet paper, rape care kits or other basic items to help the many survivors that they counsel everyday.“

Book said a great way to recognize April’s Sexual Assault Awareness Month is to ”find out about your center’s needs and get them met.“  She is featuring a list of centers and their requests on her website, and is using her Facebook and Twitter platforms to drive awareness and community involvement.

Last week, ironically right in the middle of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Gov. Scott vetoed $1.5 million for the Florida Council Against Sexual Violence. The Legislature had set aside the funding to support 30 rape crisis centers hampered by reductions in collections, which account for the bulk of their budgets.

For more information about the initiative, visit laurenskids.org.  Below is a complete list of the local centers and their needs:

Bradenton: Manatee Glens Rape Crisis (Serving Manatee County)

•     New/newer office furniture for clients to sit on (current furniture is over 15+ years old and was used even then)

•     Decor/paint for offices/staff break room

•     Coffee pot for clients and staff (supply of coffee and or hot cocoa)

•     Be able to purchase shirts (uniformed) for Victim Advocate (especially in call out situations) so they are easily identifiable (more official for victims to see)

•     New curtains in lobby, ones that fit and don’t break due to not being the correct size.

Contact: Tari Allan (tari.allan@manateeglens.org) – 941-782-4361 or Cathy Wilson (catherine.wilson@manateeglens.org) – 941-782-4358