By Matthew Dooley Staff writer
The Women’s Resource Center and the women’s studies department at Susquehanna created a toiletries drive for October’s Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
According to junior Nirvana Thakur, who works at the center, “October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month—a month to spread more awareness about what is domestic violence.”
Karol Weaver, a professor of history and the director of the women’s studies department, put Thakur in charge of creating the drive. “[Dr. Weaver] is the one who initiated it, but it is my job to make the flyers to make the event happen as I want it to happen,” Thakur said.
“The action is by the Resource Center and the idea is by the women’s studies department,” Thakur added.
The drive was a chance for students to help those who have been abused.
“People are suffering through [domestic abuse] and they need help,” Thakur said. “Sometimes this [drive] is for the victims themselves. Sometimes [the victims] do not know that they are going through domestic violence themselves. They do not know if this is harassment or violence and they think they have to suffer through it. [Domestic Violence Awareness Month] is to let them know that they are not alone and that there are help and other resources outside.”
Weaver said: “We collected shampoo, conditioner, razors, hygiene products and hair care products. The drive was successful in promoting awareness of domestic violence, in advertising the Women’s Center, Inc. and in collecting needed hygiene and care items.”
Thakur said: “Domestic awareness is not just about spreading awareness, but it is also about helping. So the awareness is the idea, spreading it online, writing about it, telling others about it. But the drive itself is the action of helping them. I think it is important because, we are not just saying we are there for them, but we are showing them and giving them the resources they need to deal with this.”
The donations received went to the Women’s Center, Inc. in Bloomsburg.
“The Women’s Resource Center always does a donation drive for them,” Thakur said.
“The non-profit helps women who have been sexually assaulted or sexually harassed or don’t have the capability to support themselves. So, we thought of doing this donation drive for toiletries to help woman who can’t afford this stuff, simple stuff in life that we need,” she added.
Weaver said, “[Domestic Violence Awareness Month] alerted the campus community to the reality of domestic violence and to the services offered by local organizations like the Women’s Center, Inc. It provided members of the campus community an opportunity to showcase their generosity.”