By Kim SchneiderEAST LIVERPOOL – In cooperation with Leadership Columbiana County (LCC), KSU will sponsor a donation drive for the Christina House, to benefit the children of domestic violence.
The Christina House shelters approximately 50 children a year; many of the children often find themselves leaving their home with just the clothes on their backs. Therefore, Leadership Columbiana County has supplied drop boxes in KSU-EL Mary Patterson building and main building to collect items to place in the backpacks that Wal-Mart has donated. The purpose of the drop boxes is to supply the children of the Christina House with a “survival/comfort kit.” The items they are looking for are: blankets, teddy bears, coloring books, writing utensils, toys, undergarments and personal grooming items.
The Christina House is a domestic violence program sponsored since 1997 by the Catholic Charities Regional Agency that provides emergency shelter to victims of domestic violence and their children. The Christina House is the only full-service domestic violence program in Columbiana County. They operate a 24-hour crisis line for victims of domestic violence and other abuse. The program guides victims through a process to bring about safety and stability to their lives. The Christina House will assist in filing for protection orders, provide community education for various topics, including domestic violence, dating abuse, sexual assault, and child abuse safety.
According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, one in every four women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime. In Ohio, 20,608 domestic violence cases were filed in 2006. West Virginia reported 12,528 and Pennsylvania reported 91,545! In Ohio, 345 deaths have occurred from domestic disturbances in 2006; in Pennsylvania, 64 women were killed in 2006, and since June 22, 2008 24 people were killed, including three children. West Virginia reported 37 homicides as result of domestic violence. West Virginia also reports 996 children were victims of domestic violence and seven killed. These facts don’t pertain only to women; men are victims as well and are included in the overall statistics.
What is domestic violence?
Domestic violence is a pattern of physical and emotional coercive and violent behavior that restricts the activity and independence of another person. Abusers use verbal insults, financial control, emotional attacks and threats, and physical and sexual violence to get their partners to do what they want. The main goal of the abuser is to gain control or maintain power in the relationship.
Domestic violence does not discriminate. Victims are both male and female and can occur in all types of relationships, all neighborhoods and all types of families.
Contacts:
If you need help or know someone who is being abused and want to help, call the Christina House 24-hour hotline at 330-420-0036.
For more information about the Catholic Charities Regional Agency, call the Lisbon office at 330-420-0845. For information, referrals, and confidential services call the Christina House 24-hour crisis line at 330-420-0036.
