Here's a Show that will Support the Victim Service Center of Central Florida

 

Upcoming Awareness Events

Save the Dates and Help Bring Awareness

Denim Day (Wednesday, April 25th) 

Denim Day was created after an 18-year old girl in Italy was raped.  The perpetrator was convicted of rape and sentenced to jail but appealed the sentence; the case was overturned and the perpetrator released.  In a statement by the Chief Judge, he argued, "because the victim wore very, very tight jeans, she had to help him remove them, and by removing the jeans it was no longer rape but consensual sex."

Enraged by the verdict, within a matter of hours the women in the Italian Parliament launched into immediate action and protested by wearing jeans to work. The verdict was eventually overruled and he was convicted.

If you are interested in bringing awareness to sexual violence and want to help raise funds for the Victim Service Center of Central Florida at the same time, contact us; we have teal colored metallic lapel pins that can be handed out to those donating to this awareness effort. 

UnderAWARE Underwear Drive (All of April)

Executive Director Gina Costa came up with the clothing drive name and community awareness campaign to help meet the needs of sexual assault victims who have their clothing taken as evidence during the investigation. The Victim Service Center provides replacement clothing for them, along with medical and advocacy services.

The UnderAWARE Underwear Drive encourages organizations, schools, businesses and faith-based communities to take our collection boxes (put together by volunteers) and informational flyers and put them in their places of business and collect the specified needed new clothing (e.g., underwear, sports bras, sweat pants) and replacement items (e.g., bed sheets). Organizations can use their own collection containers if they choose.  Collected items will be handed out to our sexual assault survivors (12 & up).  Monetary donations are also accepted and will go to providing victim services.

Please contact us if you would like to help bring awareness and to help collect these needed items for our sexual assault survivors.

Ride to Reach (Saturday, April 28th / 9AM - 1PM)

Avalon Park - Town Park Amphitheater

(See above article.)

If you are interested in helping to bring awareness to this event and or want to help plan or volunteer for this event, please contact us. 

Clothesline Project (Saturday, April 28th)

This is a sexual assault awareness activity that honors someone who has been victimized by any form of sexual assault.  Survivors, victims of crimes, family members, friends, secondary victims, and supporters will be able to express themselves by decorating a t-shirt that will then be displayed on a clothesline at the Ride to Reach sexual assault awareness event, April 28th 9AM - 1PM (Avalon Park - Town Park Amphitheater).

If you are interested in bringing awareness to this activity and / or interested in helping our volunteers get ready for this event, please contact us.

A SURVIVOR'S STORY

Childhood Sexual Abuse

(and then . . .)  

There are thieves, and there are thieves. 

A thief is someone who takes something that does not belong to them or they have not been given permission or access to.  So it is with a child's innocence.

Their innocence is their lack of worldly experience, sophistication, or knowledge; in other words, their ignorance.  A child is innocent to the world of sex until they have been sexually violated.  Still they are ignorant to sex, but aware of violence and thievery.  It is a moment in time when they are in a dark hole of physical pain and mental anguish they were never born to experience.  That's what happened to me.  This is my story.

After years of suppression, I remember what it felt like to bring those memories to the forefront of my consciousness. Not a pretty picture. A matter of fact, once it raised its ugly head, it refused to go back into its dismal cave.

Years later in my adulthood the demon took on another form.  This time it became rape. 

The guilt and shame and torment magnified itself, and I still suffer at times, except this time I am armed for my attacker.

Do I sleep well?  Not as well as I would like.   

Am I troubled at night?  Well, if getting up in the middle of the night checking the house and peeping through the blinds, I guess you can say I have moments of paranoia.

Am I comfortable at night in my own home rather than a stranger's or a hotel room? Personally, I sleep better and in complete darkness in other places.

Has counseling helped?  I think so, but there is always room for improvement.  I have moved on.

After years of struggles, I completed my bachelors and masters dergrees and am working on another masters degree. I retired as a teacher.

I finally found where I was going.  I now help other women.

I think I and others like me can still live as survivors now that they know what the boogie man looked like as children, and that he comes in many shapes and sizes as an adult.

I'll hold their hand, pray with them, encourage to empower - whatever it takes. Life is still beautiful.

Anonymous (at least for now).

  Monthly Informational Briefings

Last Wednesday of Every Month

Next Briefing

Wednesday - February 29, 2012

Noon - 1PM at the Victim Service Center  

Each month the Victim Service Center will be offering Informational Briefings to educate the community on our services, cultivate interest in our agency, and offer individual involvement with our mission through volunteerism, fundraising, or assisting us in spreading the word that we are here to help those impacted by crimes and sexual assaults.

By attending our Informational Briefing, you will learn about our history, our mission, services, our priorities, and our goals.  

Where & When

1801 Lee Road, Suite 165

Winter Park, Florida  32789

February 29, 2012

Noon - 1PM

Please let us know that you will be attending; bring a friend.

R.S.V.P - Office: 407.644.2577 or  e-mail Jody Swain at jody.swain@ocfl.net 

Speakers Bureau 

Are you wanting to inspire and help inform others by sharing your story?

The Victim Service Center now has a Speakers Bureau. 

Mission:

The mission of the VSC Speakers Bureau is to increase awareness of all types of crime, the effects that crime has on its victims, and the need for recovery resources.

Speakers:

The VSC Speakers Bureau consists of survivors of crime, from all walks of life, who share a passion for helping others.

Members have the opportunity to share their personal stories with students, communities, victims' service groups, and others.

Recruiting Speakers:

If you are a victim of a crime, or a friend or family member of a victim, who may be interested in joining the VSC Speakers Bureau, contact our Speakers Bureau Task Force Chair, Diana Oakley, or Jody Swain, Development Director, for more information.

Contact Us:

If you are interested in having a member of the VSC Speakers Bureau attend your event you can contact Diana Oakley or Jody Swain at 407-644-2577 or you can e-mail Jody at Jody.Swain@ocfl.net.  We can help you develop a topic-focus area that fits your group's presentation need.