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Health & Fitness

Johnston Mayor Organizes Cell Phone Drive to Benefit the Elizabeth Buffum Chace Center

CONTACT:

Cristina Williams, Manager, Communications & Public Relations, RICADV; Phone: 401-467-9940; Cell: 917-940-3729; cristina@ricadv.org; www.ricadv.org; Facebook.com/RICADV; Twitter @RICADV

[Tuesday, November 26, 2013] Johnston Mayor Joseph Polisena presented the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence with a donation of 140 gently used cell phones that were gathered by community members from the town of Johnston, RI. The funds raised through this cell phone drive will go directly to the Elizabeth Buffum Chace Center (EBC), which provides direct services to victims of domestic violence from Johnston and throughout the Kent County area. It is the second year that Mayor Polisena’s office has organized the drive to help victims of domestic violence. The gathering was held on November 19 at the Johnston Senior Center.

Mayor Polisena thanked the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence (RICADV) for the tireless work of the organization and its member agencies in ending domestic violence. He said that domestic abuse happens in all communities, in every part of Rhode Island, and we all must contribute to ending it. Donating cell phones is a small but vital way each and every Rhode Islander can help.

Cell phones are used in two ways, said Deborah DeBare, Executive Director of the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence:

1. They provide a lifeline to a victim of domestic violence by providing her/him the ability to safely communicate.

2. Funds are given to domestic violence agencies for the phones that cannot be used.

“The simple act of donating a cell phone does more than give a victim the ability to communicate; it also gives her the ability to make a safety plan, and it possibly prevents a domestic violence tragedy,” added DeBare. “We thank the Mayor of Johnston for his support and for encouraging others to be active bystanders—it is through community involvement in efforts such as this cell phone drive that we will end domestic violence.”

To find out how you can support the six member agencies of the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence by donating a cell phone or other needed item, please visit www.ricadv.org for a list of the agencies and their websites. These organizations collect donations yearlong and particularly during the holiday season, which can be especially difficult for victims of domestic violence and their children.



ABOUT RICADV:
The Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence (RICADV) is an organization dedicated to ending domestic violence. The RICADV was formed in 1979 to support and assist the six domestic violence prevention agencies in Rhode Island. The organization also provides leadership to its six member agencies, strives to create justice for victims, and raises awareness on the issue of domestic violence in Rhode Island.


Photo Link - Johnston Cell Phone Drive 2013:
Johnston Cell Phone Drive 2013 Photos

Pictured in Photo 1 (from left): Dan Ormond, Law Enforcement Advocate, Cranston and Johnston Police Departments; Johnston Police Deputy Chief Daniel Parrillo; Representative Gregory J. Costantino; Mayor Joseph M. Polisena, Town of Johnston; Deborah DeBare, Executive Director of the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence; Janet Whiteley, Administrative Assistant, Office of Mayor Joseph M. Polisena; Jennifer Goldberger, Personnel Clerk, Town of Johnston

Pictured in Photo 2 (from left): Mayor Joseph M. Polisena, Town of Johnston; Deborah DeBare, Executive Director of the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence


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