A Helping Hand from Contact Lifeline
ContactLifeline, a non-profit organization, held an event in the student lounge at Delaware Technical Community College on Sept. 21, to raise awareness of sexual assault.
ContactLifeline was established in Wilmington, in 1974, and has helped many communities throughout the region with telephone counseling, crisis intervention, education and referral services.
Brenda Marcon, a volunteer for ContactLifeline, said volunteers provide help to victims of sexual assault by being advocates.
“We go to the hospitals, we go to police stations, and we go to the courts, if the survivor wants us to,” Marcon said. “We will sit with them if they want us to, and just reassure them that everything is going to be alright.”
Delaware Tech is not the only stop for ContactLifeline. The organization holds many events all around the state. ContactLifeline gives presentations to students in high schools and junior high school, various women groups, and some law enforcement agencies, such as the local police department.
“When we go to high schools, the kids just come to us,” said Marcon.
She said many kids are faced with serious problems in relationships, whether it is them or a friend, and can really absorb the material being presented.
“One of the goals of this event was to make people aware of the issue, so that they could be involved with intervening before things go too far,” said Elijah, a volunteer for the event who wished to remain anonymous. “People are able to network, find useful material, and get help they might not of known about.”
James, a student in attendance, who also wished to remain anonymous , said the event was “absolutely great.”
“They are saying how people feel about sexual assault, and what can be done to prevent it,” he said.
Literature at the event was available that dealt with suicide prevention and safe dating, as well as ways ways to reach out to the organization.ContactLifeline services a provided statewide, and for more information about the organizations events or resources, call the main office toll free at 1-800-262-9800.
