Police Collect Items for Domestic Violence Shelter 5/7/2009

Holly Springs police are leading a community drive to collect items for a shelter that helps women who are victims of domestic violence.

Collection boxes for certain household products, baby formula, gas and phone cards, cell phones and other items will remain in Town government buildings, local banks, day-care centers and other businesses. Collection began Monday and will continue until June 1.

See collection drive items and locations.

The donated items will go to a shelter operated by Interact, a private, nonprofit, United Way agency that provides resources for victims of domestic violence, including rape or sexual assault.

Operation Restart, Repair, Renew is the idea of Officer Jynnifer Bridges of the Holly Springs Police Department. She is one of several Holly Springs officers with specialized training in handling cases of domestic violence.

"I just wanted to do some kind of community policing project, and with the economy, a lot of different agencies and resources are suffering," she said last week.

Police say the economic downturn apparently has been fueling an increase in cases of physical or verbal domestic abuse during the past year.

"We're seeing more family hardship," said Sgt. Dru Humphries.

Damita Chambers, Interact's communications outreach specialist, said the items would be used for the agency's residential counseling program.

"We are so grateful for the efforts of the Holly Springs Police Department in arranging this donation drive for the families who we serve," she said.

Collection boxes went into many banks, day-care centers and other businesses for the start of the drive May 4. Boxes were also placed in Town Hall at 128 S. Main St. and at Holly Springs Cultural Center and Bass Lake Retreat Center as well as Hunt Community Center.

On June 1, Holly Springs police collect the donated items and arrange delivery to Interact.

For more information, contact Bridges or Sgt. Paul Creek of the Holly Springs Police Department at (919) 552-7110.

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Town of Holly Springs - PO Box 8 - 128 South Main Street - Holly Springs, NC 27540 - (919) 552-6221 - Holly.Springs@hollyspringsnc.us