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Agencies Participate In Phone Donation Program

Shown from left to right are Jeremy Swanson, Finance Director, The Salvation Army of Chautauqua; Senator George Borrello; and Diana Butcher, Program Director, The Salvation Army Anew Center.

ALBANY — To help survivors of domestic violence and crime victims access services and stay safe, Sen. George Borrello, R-Sunset Bay, has partnered with Connecting Communities in Action and the Salvation Army’s Anew Center to create the State of Hope Program to collect donated cell phones and chargers.

“Sadly, we saw a rise in domestic violence during the pandemic. There is a gap in service for survivors of crime, particularly domestic-violence survivors, who need cell phones to access services and stay in contact with their family and support networks,” Borrello said. “We created the State of Hope to give domestic-violence survivors, and other victims of crime, that lifeline as they recover and rebuild their lives.”

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Borrello said State of Hope is being launched now to raise awareness and give the community an opportunity to help domestic-violence survivors and other victims of crime. Donated phones will be refurbished and factory reset with new SIM cards, protecting phone donors’ information and that of recipients. Survivors will also receive pre-paid phone cards.

Phones are required to be 3G or higher and must be dropped off with chargers.

Phones and chargers can be donated at Sen. Borrello’s offices in Jamestown and Olean at 700 W. State St., Olean, and 2 E. Second St. Suite 302, Jamestown.

Shown from left to right are Senator Borrello, Mason Maynard, Connecting Communities in Action (CCA) Program Director of Victim Services; Anna Swanson, CCA Domestic Violence Case Manager, and Jennifer McGuire, CCA Underserved Victim Services Case Manager.

Diana Butcher, program director of the Salvation Army’s Anew Center in Jamestown, said the center receives around 350 hot-line calls each month and typically provides about 125 people, including domestic-violence survivors, with emergency shelter every year.

“This program is important to survivors because often a phone is the key component to a survivor having access to resources and assistance,” Ms. Butcher said. “Often in domestic violence situations the victim’s phone is taken away, broken or is tracked. Many victims do not have access to finances to help replace phones or purchase minutes. With these phones and the minute cards, survivors will have the ability to reach out to services, have access to emergency assistance and be able to reach community resources to assist them with financial assistance, basic needs, and most importantly assists them with emergency help and safety. “I want to thank Senator Borrello and all our partners in making this happen! It is a needed resource.”

Mason Maynard, Connecting Communities in Action program director of victim services, said State of Hope gives the caring community members a chance to stand together to help survivors.

“The State of Hope program is a tremendous opportunity for us all to stand against those who choose domestic violence as a means to control others and harm our community,” he said. “Individuals who donate an old phone are taking an active role in the safety and wellbeing of our community. These donated phones are a resource that empowers survivors of domestic violence to have a voice and means of connectedness to our wonderful community and network of resources.”

Borrello said State of Hope is an example of the kind of giving and supportive communities throughout the 57th Senate District.

“When we brought up this idea, there was no hesitation, everyone we contacted wanted to help,” Borrello said. “I want to thank the Anew Center and Connecting Communities in Action for making this program possible. By working together, we found a way to help survivors stay connected and stay safe. We are blessed to live in a community where we always take care of one another, always.”

Those who need to access services for domestic-violence survivors or crime-victims’ services can call:

¯ Connecting Communities in Action at 945-1041. Connecting Community in Action’s 24-hour crisis hotline is available at 1-888-945-3970, or at 716-945-3970.

¯ Salvation Army Anew Center at 661-3894. The Anew Center’s crisis 24-hour hotline can be reached at 800-252-8748 or 716-661-3897.

For more information about the State of Hope, call Borrello’s district office in Jamestown at 664-4603 or Sen. Borrello’s satellite office in Olean at 372-4901.

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