VICTIMS RESOURCE CENTER Volume 18 Issue 3 Spr ing 2018-2019

sp eakout An Advocate for Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

www.vrcnepa.org 570.823.0766 Office 570.823.9115 Fax

LUZERNE COUNTY

71 North Franklin Street Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701 Hotline: 570.823.0765

WYOMING COUNTY

119 Warren Street Tunkhannock, PA 18657

Hotline: 570.836.5544

CARBON COUNTY

1001 Mahoning Street Lehighton, PA 18235 Hotline: 610.379.0151

Victims Resource Center services are funded in part by grants from:

Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence

Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency United Way of Wyoming Valley United Way of Greater Hazleton United Way of Wyoming County

Inside….

SAAM Events ….…………..………………….2

Grateful Roast Fundraiser…………………..3

Victims Rights Week Rally...……….……….4

Prosecution of Sexual Assault..…………......5

45th Anniversary Gala…......……………......6

NEPA Match Day..………..…………………..7

Geranium Sale...…………………………..…..8

VRC in the Community……………………9-10

Donors………………………………………….11

2019 marks the 18th anniversary of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The theme for 2019 is “I Ask”. The goal of “I Ask” is to em-power everyone to put consent into practice. Asking for consent is a healthy, normal, and necessary part of everyday interactions. Con-sent is about always choosing to respect the personal and emotional boundaries of others. It’s important for individuals to think about how their actions might make others feel and ask questions if they don’t know. When an individual wants to get close to someone, whether it’s someone they’re hooking up with for the first time or a partner in a committed relationship, it’s important to know how to ask for consent. All of us can practice consent in our lives by asking permission before assuming and showing respect for others’

choices. When it comes to sex, it’s important that eve-ryone is on the same page, and the best way to do that is by being direct and ask-ing.

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Clothesline Project Displays:

April - Luzerne County Community College

April 10- Wilkes University Henry Student Center

April 10- Kings College

Throughout April –

Barnes & Noble Wilkes/King’s Student Book Store, 7 S. Main St., Wilkes-Barre

Kirby Health Center, 71 N. Franklin St., Wilkes-Barre

Tunkhannock Library, 220 W. Tioga St., Tunkhannock

Sexual Assault Awareness Month Events

Shoe Project Display:

April 1-5 – Lehighton Library

April 8-12- Panther Valley Library

April 10 – King’s College

April 10 – Wilkes University Henry Student Center

April 15-18- Weatherly Area Library

April 22-26- Palmerton Library

Grateful Roast coffee shop at 400 Middle Road in Nanticoke is partnering with VRC during Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Crime Victims’ Rights Week. For Sexual Assault Aware-ness Month, Grateful Roast will place coffee sleeves on their coffee cups that say, “Support and Believe Survivors” for the whole month of April. During Crime Victims’ Rights Week, April 7th through 13th, they will sell their bags of coffee and give proceeds to VRC. In addition on Saturday, April 13th, Grateful Roast will give away free cups of coffee for a donation to VRC. We would like to thank Grateful Roast for helping bring awareness to the issue of sexual violence and for their generosi-ty.

NATIONAL CRIME VICTIMS’ RIGHTS WEEK RALLY

APRIL 10, 2019

March Starts At 5:30 At

Wilkes University Henry Student Center

King’s College Sheehy-Farmer Campus Center

Rally at 6 p.m.

Victims Resource Center, 71 N. Franklin St. W- B

Contact Victims Resource Center at 570.823.0765 for more information

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Victims Resource Center

In cooperation with King’s College, and the Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office

presents……

THE REALITY

Of

PROSECUTING

A SEXUAL ASSAULT

This interactive panel discussion will provide an informative look into the realities of the prosecution of

a sexual assault. Participants will include prosecution, law enforcement, victim advocates and a representative of a victim.

This presentation will be of interest to professionals, students and the public.

There is no charge and reservations are not required.

Join us on April 3, 2019 at 6:00 p.m. in the Kings College at the Burke Auditorium

Any questions or concerns please contact Victims Resource Center, at 570-823-0765.

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DONATE TO VRC ON MAY 3RD!!!

For every dollar raised by Victims Resource Center, one of the thirty participating nonprofits, the Scranton Area Community Foundation will match

the gifts, dollar for dollar, up to $1,000 for each nonprofit. For one day only, your $25 gift becomes $50, $100 becomes $200, and $500 becomes $1,000. The

Scranton Area Community Foundation will also award an additional bonus of $5,000 to one participating organization based on specific criteria and

participation.

NEPA Match Day was established by the Scranton Area Community Foundation in2015 as a way to help nonprofit organizations serving our community raise

awareness about their organization, engage new and existing donors, and raise much-needed capital to build organizational capacity. Promoted as a fun way to encourage philanthropy in the community, NEPA Match Day aims to demonstrate how even small gifts make a big difference. In 2018, NEPA Match Day raised over

$217,000 in 24 hours for 25 participating local nonprofit organizations serving the people of Lackawanna County.

 

VRC in the Community

Wilkes-Barre City Hall employees including Mayor Anthony George and Police Chief Joseph Coffay recently participated in Sexual Harassment in the Workplace Trainings. Two trainings were held in City Council Chambers.

From left to right are; Attorney Maureen Collins, Deputy City At-torney, Tim Henry, City Attorney, Victims Resource Center Man-ager of Community Services Tammi Burke, Mayor Tony George, Police Chief Joseph Coffay, Health Director Henry Radulski and Training Facilitator/Health Educator David S. Yonki.

The local Mary Kay Directors and Mary Kay Foundation Ambassadors held a fundraiser called Pink in the Park at a Scranton Wilkes-Barre Railriders game. Most of the money raised was for the Mary Kay Foundation that supports do-mestic violence shelters across the coun-try. A portion was given directly to the Victims Resource Center for their sup-port of victim/survivors locally.

Pictured left to right: Kim Hirt- Mary Kay Director and Foundation Ambassador, Janet MacKay Vic-tims Resource Center Executive Director. Not pre-sent: Jo Gulvas- Mary Kay Director and Foundation Ambassador

Pictured l to r: Madison Scarfaro- Marsy’s Law for Pennsylvania; Janet MacKay- Victims Resource Cen-ter; Representative Tara Toohil

Pictured l to r: Janet MacKay- Victims Resource Center; Madison Scarfaro- Marsy’s Law for Pennsylvania; Senator Lisa Baker

Marsy’s Law for Pennsylvania presented Representative Tara Toohil and Senator Lisa Baker the Guardian of Vic-tims’ Rights Awards. The Award is presented to people who have served as advocates and ambassadors for crime victims across the state, working to ensure that they are treated with dignity and respect. Representative Toohil and Senator Baker are supporters of Marsy’s Law legisla-tion which is seeking an amendment to ensure that the Pennsylvania Constitution enumerates rights for victims of crime.

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During the annual Commonwealth Health Wilkes Barre General Hospitals Compe-tency Training Victims Resource Center provided training on sexual violence awareness and reviewed screening tools. The purpose of the annual Competency training is to give medical staff an opportunity to review policies, discuss proto-cols, and any changes occurring with these. They were trained on proper techniques with equipment, verbal nurs-ing assessments, knowledge related to various systems, and Identifying indications for emergency nursing care.

The AFSCME Council 13 Women’s Conference was held March 8-10, 2019, at Kalahari Resorts & Conventions in Pocono Manor, Pa. The AFSMCE collected donation for comfort kits to be given to sexual assault victims who present at the hospital for sexual assault forensic exams. The donations in-cluded tote bags, sweat pants, leggings, t-shirts, socks, toiletries and journals. There was an abundance of these items donat-ed. In addition a silent auction was the proceeds were donated to VRC. We would like to thank the AFSCME Council 13 for all of their support and their generosity.

VRC in the Community

Thank You Back Mountain Kiwanis Club for your generous donation!!

Thank you to our Donors…we couldn’t do it without you!!!!! Back Mountain Kiwanis Club* James & Patricia Blazejewski* Charles D. Cummings* John H. Gra-ham* Theresa and Gerard W. Langan Jr.* NEPA NOW* Lisa Ninotti* P&G Mehoopany Employ-ees Federal CU* TMG Health* Marcia Wazeter & Albert Jesikiewicz* Tracie L. Wood* Gretch-en S. Yeninas*Guyette Communication Industries*Mary Kay- Pink in the Park*Glen & Susan Grady*Gary E. Lippi*Eugene C. Crossin*Attorney Carl N. Frank*Florence Anne Mokris*Sharyn Benedetto*Lise R. Watkins*Elizabeth-Ann Moloughney*Pat & Dolly Rushton*Ron & Jacqueline A. Matthews*Suzanne M. Beck*Estella Parker Killian*James & Laura Dickson*Carol & Owen Lavery*Christine E. McLaughlin*Neil T. O’Donnell*Margarita Rose*Cross Valley Federal Credit Union* InterMetro Industries Employees* Charlene & Kevin Macaluso* Jill Morton* NEPA

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POSITION AVAILABLE Applications are being accepted for a full time Counselor/Advocate position. Duties in-clude crisis intervention, counseling, legal and medical accompaniments. Candidates must have a genuine sensitivity to victimization issues and be available to work within a three county area. Position requires flexible hours and travel. Bilingual applicants encouraged to apply. Degree and/or equivalent experience is required. No phone calls. Please submit letter of interest with resume no later than April 26, 2019.

Victims Resource Center 71 North Franklin Street Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701

or email jobs@vrcnepa.org

NEW POSITION AVAILABLE

Applications are being accepted for a new position fulltime Chief Pro-gram Officer. This is a leadership position that requires experience in grant writing and administration of programs and related grants in a vic-tim services agency or similar non-profit. Must be able to work flexible hours and travel. Masters Degree is required. No phone calls. Please sub-mit letter of interest along with resume no later than April 26, 2019 to:

Executive Director Victims Resource Center 71 North Franklin Street Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701

or email jobs@vrcnepa.org

You can help support Victims Resource Center in a number of ways…or make a donation by choosing Victims Resource Center

You can also donate by texting “GIVE2VRC ” to 44-321

Gift Card

YES! I/We want to help support services and edu-cation programs in Luzerne, Carbon and Wyoming Counties.

Amount of my gift

$1,000 $500

$250 $100

$50 Other

Name:

Address:

City:

State: Zip:

Phone:

Email:

To make a credit card donation visit:

www.vrcnepa.org

Mail to: Victims Resource Center

71 North Franklin Street

Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701

_______ I would like to be contacted about including

Victims Resource Center in my will.

Please contact me about a VRC speaker for my

community group, workplace, place of worship,

school, etc.

VRC is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. The official organ-ization and financial information for VRC may be obtained from the PA Department of State by calling (800) 732-0999 within Pennsylvania. Registration does not imply endorse-ment.