Greetings:

 

As you are all aware, we are now closing out day 42 of the State Budget Crisis and many essential services are scheduled to close in the next two weeks.  SCCAP’s shelter and services, WIC, CCIS, and many, many others.  We are hanging in there for now, but that will change tragically if the budget is not passed and cash does not start to flow to nonprofit agencies once again.

 

Last year, Survivors, Inc. sheltered over 585 women and children at Claudia House, a 22 bed facility that is in the heart of Adams County.  Nearly 130 sexual assault survivors received counseling and support, and many other folks received hotline services and intervention from our agency.  Think about it- if we were to total up all the folks that received services, roughly 1000 individuals were served.  That does not include the thousands of folks who have participated in community education efforts and participated in trainings.  Adams County has 526 square miles.  That means no matter what direction you walk, drive, or bicycle, you could pass 2 victims that have accessed our services to heal from abuse, and to heal their children.  That is even more striking if you realize that for every victim we know of, there or 5 to 10 individuals who have not reported, who have not reached out for help… YET.

 

The problem looms- very vulnerable people in one of the worst economies since the Great Depression.  What can we do?  We CAN make our voices heard.

 

FIRST- Please join us on Thursday August 13, 2009 at the Rec Park at 11am.  Please wear a black shirt to show your concern and mourning for this imposed and unnecessary crisis.  We will walk from the Charles Sterner Building to the square, past Representative Moul’s office to the Courthouse and back to the park.  Please bring your coworkers, your friends, your family, everyone you can.  Please feel free to make and bring signs.  Active participation and a large turnout will help ensure success.  WHP 21 (CBS), FOX 43, WGAL, ACTV, the Gettysburg Times, the Evening Sun, and other news media have been invited.  We hope to see you there!

 

SECOND- Please take a moment to contact your State Representatives (call and/or email) and let them know how important having a safety net for vulnerable families, vulnerable individuals is to you.  Also attached is the members of the Budget Committee, please let them know how devastating this crisis is to your community.  Please do not forget that so far 2009 fiscal year has been one of the most violent with a murder last week in York, and a mass femicide in Pittsburgh.  Femicide is not limited to any zip code in PA. 

 

PA State Budget Conference Committee
Senator Dominic Pileggi R- Chester/Delaware Counties	Senate Box 203009, Harrisburg PA 17120-3009 or 100 Evergreen Drive, Suite 113, Glen Mills, PA 19342 717.787.4712 or 610.358.5183 dpileggi@...
Senator Jake Corman R- Centre/Juniata/Mifflin/Perry/Union Counties	Senate Box 203034, Harrisburg PA 17120-3034 or 236 Match Factory Place, Bellefonte, PA 16823 717.787.1377 or 814.355.0477 jcorman@...
Senator Jay Costa D- Allegheny County	Senate Box 203043, Harrisburg PA 17120-3043 or 1501 Ardmore Boulevard, Suite 403, Pittsburgh, PA 15221-4401 717.787.7693 or 412.241.6690 costa@...
Honorable Dwight Evans D- Philadelphia County	PO Box 202203, Harrisburg PA 17120-2203 or 7174 Ogontz Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19138 717.783.1540 or 215.549.0020 Email may be accessed from http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/member_information/email_list.cfm?body=H
Honorable Todd A. Eachus D- Luzerne County	PO Box 202116, Harrisburg PA 17120-2116 or  1West Broad Street, Suite 3, Hazelton, PA 18201 717.787.2229 or 570.450.7905 Email may be accessed from http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/member_information/email_list.cfm?body=H
Honorable Samuel H. Smith R- Armstrong/Indiana/Jefferson Counties	PO Box 202066, Harrisburg PA 17120-2066 or 109 Indiana Street, Suite 3, Punxsutawney, PA 15767 717.787.3845 or 814.938.4225 Email may be accessed from http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/member_information/email_list.cfm?body=H

 

To find your local State Legislature Representative please click here, and enter your info in the search box at the top right hand corner of the box.  http://www.legis.state.pa.us/index.cfm

 

THIRD- Please support your local charity of your choice, with gifts of time, financial donations or continued advocacy….

 

Thank you for your community advocacy!

 

-Terri

Terri L. Hamrick, MNM
Executive Director
Survivors, Inc.
Post Office Box 3572
Gettysburg, PA  17325
(717) 334-0589 Extension 104
Facsimile (717) 334-3576
Email:  Terri@...

 Visit us on the web!  http//:www.survivorsservices.org         

Mission Statement
Survivors supports those who experience domestic violence or sexual assault and strives to create a world in which violence against women and children is unthinkable.