Throughout the month of October, the UMKC’s Women’s Center is hosting a clothing drive in recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
According to graduate assistant Alison Kendall, Domestic Violence Awareness Month is an opportunity to debunk misconceptions about domestic violence. The Women’s Center is making a difference by collecting clothing and toiletries to donate to local shelters like Hope House and Rose Brooks..
Among the most needed items are basics like razors, deodorant, toothbrushes and toothpaste. However, staff in the Women’s Center say anything helps.
“We’re just looking for anything. Anything really. Like shirts, pants, socks, anything that people are willing to give,” says Laila Stevenson, a student employee at the Women’s Center.
Another member of student staff, Kaylee Monroy Riveros, describes how students can get involved and where people can bring their donations.
“We’re going to have bins in different places where you can drop [items] off, and we’re going to have a kind of thrift store where you can come in and exchange clothes for the ones that we have,” Monroy said. She says that any items left over after the thrift sale will be donated.
According to staff, the donation drive is an important step in helping the community and bringing awareness to an issue that is not commonly talked about.
“We just want to help people,” Monroy said. “It’s bringing awareness to people of what domestic violence can look like because it doesn’t just have to be physical, it can also be mental.”
The Women’s Center provides resources like free condoms, safe sex kits and pamphlets with information about domestic violence, and safe sex and body practices. It is a place where students can feel included, take care of themselves and find helpful resources.
“It’s a welcoming space. Like, you’ll come in here and you’ve never been here before and you want to stay for hours,” said Stevenson.
“I just love watching students come out of their shells and be more social and then just become a little more educated on gender equality topics. I think that’s pretty cool,” says Kendall.
Click here for more information about the clothing drive.
