Continuing a call for assistance and protection of women, the Chester County Sheriff’s Office led a winter holiday project for the Domestic Violence Center of Chester County (DVCCC): Lights On for the Holidays. Joined by women’s service sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha-Iota Tau Omega and WSFS, members of the CCSO provided donations for the basic need of electricity at safe houses and offices of DVCCC.
“As the weather turns cold, among the greatest gifts we can give domestic violence survivors are light and heat in a safe space where they can reclaim their lives,” said Chester County Sheriff Fredda Maddox.
Throughout the year, one role of deputies at the CCSO is to serve Protection from Abuse orders that provide protective relief by prohibiting abusers from contacting survivors and their children. Sometimes, however, survivors are forced to leave their homes for safety and end up at an emergency shelter or transitional home. Although men are sometimes abused, the majority of survivors are women.
According to Dolly Wideman-Scott, CEO of DVCCC, far too often survivors face a life-threatening dilemma: stay with the abuser or become homeless. They may not have the money or established credit to pay mortgage or rent, utilities, food and other basic necessities.
“We have three programs to help survivors and children keep a roof over their heads—emergency shelter, transitional housing and independent housing. We’re grateful when the community helps us with bills for lights and heat. It helps us focus on assisting survivors as they focus on jobs, life skills, health and keeping their families together,” Wideman-Scott said.
Call DVCCC’s 24-hour free hotline, 610-431-1430. Call or text (in Chester County) 911 if you are in immediate danger.