When Love Hurts

Each Valentine’s Day, we are surrounded by the promise of love, hope and happy endings.  The prospect of love is everywhere.  We are reminded of it in our stores, on television sets and in the movies.  We are encouraged to honor the love we have for one another and to show our appreciation.  For many, this week signifies the best time to be in love -  a time when we are reminded to be affectionate, appreciative and giving.

But, what about those women who aren’t so lucky?  What about those who are in love, but do not find themselves in a loving relationships?  What happens when love turns hurtful?

The month of February marks a scary and lonely time for far too many women in the United States.  According to the National Center on Domestic and Sexual Violence, domestic violence significantly increases over the holidays – including Valentine’s Day.  This past Monday morning, CBS news published an article entitled, “Valentine’s Day: Does ‘V’ Stand for Domestic Violence?” covering horrendous crimes of passion committed on Valentine Day over the past three years.

Unfortunately, the Indianapolis community is no exception.  When a woman or child comes to the hospital or treatment center after being sexually assaulted, their clothes are often kept as evidence of the crime.  As a result, the victims are not only stripped of their pride, but also their own clothing.  Without the clothing provided by the Assault Survivor Kits, these victims would have only a hospital gown to wear when they leave .

Since 1994, the volunteer members of Assistance League^® of Indianapolis have distributed more than 9,500 Assault Survivor Kits and 10,700 undergarments to 19 agencies / hospitals in central Indiana.  Each year, hospitals are requesting more and more kits – requests that simply cannot be satisfied without more funding.

This Valentine’s Day week, the women of Assistance League of Indianapolis ask that you take a moment to help those who need it most.  For as little as $12, you can provide a warm sweatsuit  and new undergarments to an assault or rape victim

“I cannot tell you how much these women appreciate the clean clothing to wear home. Not only does it replace their clothing and give them SOMETHING to wear home, but it gives them a bit of humanity back in a special way that I cannot.” wrote Caroline Fisher, a nurse at one of Indianapolis’s hospitals.

Please visit our website www.ALIndy.org to make a donation designated to the Assault Survivor Kits to help a victim become a survivor.