Domestic Violence Awareness Collection Drive is a Success

Kaiser Permanente Baldwin Park Medical Center held a press conference on November 13 to announce the results of a month-long collection drive to benefit survivors of domestic violence. The drive, held in partnership with Congresswomen Judy Chu and Grace Napolitano and local women’s shelters, started in October and coincided with Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Gently-used women and children’s clothing, toiletries, household cleaning products, and school supplies were collected.

“This is our 12th year that we are hosting the clothing and necessities drive. We truly believe in increasing awareness around violence within our communities, especially since family violence is a cycle that affects thousands of victims and their families each year,” says Maggie Pierce, Senior Vice President and Area Manager, Kaiser Permanente Baldwin Park. “As a healthcare provider, we see first-hand the physical and emotional impacts that violence and abuse brings upon its victims.”

“In addition to bringing awareness to domestic violence, this collection campaign enables others to donate critical resources to empower the victims of domestic violence to rebuild their lives. The wonderful shelters that we partner with give them shelter and transitional housing, but often resources are scarce. We thank everyone who donated items to help these victims and their families take the first steps to empowerment,” adds Pierce.

The campaign yielded more than 150, 33-gallon size bags of donations. Employees, physicians, and members from Kaiser Permanente facilities throughout the San Gabriel Valley contributed to the campaign. Items were donated to the Asian Pacific Women’s Center, House of Ruth, San Gabriel Valley Center, and YWCA-WINGS San Gabriel Valley. These organizations provide services, resources, and shelter for victims of domestic violence. Additionally, Kaiser Permanente Baldwin Park made a $1,000 donation to each of the shelters to supplement what was not collected in the drive such as new bed linens, towels, or other items that are needed to make each shelter as much of a home as possible for the victims and their families.

“We’ve partnered with Kaiser Permanente Baldwin Park since the collection drive started 12 years ago and it is truly amazing,” says Ana Interiano, Director, WINGS Domestic Violence & Prevention Services. “It has grown over the years to include more partners to help raise awareness of domestic violence, which is a public health issue, not a gender issue. Our strong partnership with Kaiser Permanente Baldwin Park is very special to us. In addition to the collection drive, we work closely with physicians regarding referrals for counseling services, our hotline, etc. We appreciate all that they do.”

Another component of Kaiser Permanente Baldwin Park’s Domestic Violence Awareness Campaign is a Day of Pampering. Students from Baldwin Park Adult and Community Education Program provided complimentary haircuts, styles, facials, pedicures, and manicures for nearly 20 women from our partnering domestic violence shelters.

Besides the donation collection, Kaiser Permanente Baldwin Park’s year-round used cell phone collection campaign in partnership with Verizon Wireless HopeLine continues to provide assistance to women in need. Verizon Wireless generously provides each of the shelters with 20 phones that are programmed with 3,000 airtime minutes each. The phones have been instrumental in helping victims as they work toward rebuilding their lives in seeking permanent housing and employment, as well as in being able to communicate with their families, attorneys, and the courts.

Photo: Congresswoman Judy Chu with Maggie Pierce, Senior Vice President and Area Manager, Kaiser Permanente Baldwin Park Medical Center; Victor Cheng, MD, Physician-in-Charge, Kaiser Permanente Diamond Bar Medical Offices; and representatives from Congresswoman Grace Napolitano’s Office, Asian Pacific Women’s Center, House of Ruth, San Gabriel Valley Center, and YWCA WINGS, San Gabriel Valley.