October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. To address the needs of local women in crisis, the Verona Juniors are holding a toiletries drive for Babyland Services, Inc.
Located in Newark, the Babyland Domestic Violence Shelter was established in 1979 as Essex County’s first family violence program. Babyland now fields approximately 5,000 hotline calls every year from women in crisis. Babyland provides support and shelter for these women, and has many programs in place to help the women’s children.
Since many of these women and children arrive at Babyland with only the clothes on their backs, the organization is charged with providing resources for them in the form of shelter, food, and basic toiletries. The Juniors’ goal is to provide Babyland with an ample supply of toiletries to help these families cope during such a stressful and transitional time.
Anyone in this area who would like to donate toiletries can e-mail the Juniors by October 17, and they will contact you with more information. Babyland is accepting only new and unopened items. The following is a list of items the Juniors are collecting: soap, deodorant, shampoo, laundry detergent, lotion, sanitary napkins, tampons, cleaning supplies, diapers, and baby wipes.
Also, the Juniors want you to know that if you are a victim of domestic violence, you are not alone. There are people who can help you. Please call Babyland’s hotline for information and support, 973-484-4446.
