Medline announces $10,000 gift to 'A Safe Place'

Medline Industries is proud to announce a $10,000 donation to A Safe Place, the largest domestic violence nonprofit in Lake County, Illinois. A Safe Place provides a 24-hour hotline, counseling services, legal advocacy, emergency shelter, crisis counseling, support housing, family visitation services and outreach for Lake County residents and beyond. Medline has long supported A Safe Place through philanthropy and fundraising events and has contributed $24,000 to A Safe Place since 2013.

Medline’s donation will go directly toward the increased need to shelter domestic violence victims during COVID-19. With families having to stay in their homes during the COVID-19 Illinois Stay-At-Home order, instances of domestic violence are rising. A Safe Place has seen a dramatic increase in the need for domestic violence protections and services. Calls to the 24-hour hotline have risen from 14 per week last year to 103 per week currently. Clients needing emergency shelter have doubled.

“Medline is glad to continue its support for a vital Lake County organization at an extremely needed time,” said Karen Frey, Medline philanthropy manager. “As its mission, Medline is committed to supporting the public health of its communities and domestic violence is yet another public health crisis as we recover from COVID-19.”

A Safe Place has had to implement alternative measures to care for its clients during the COVID-19 outbreak. The organization continues to provide counseling services to over 150 clients by teleconference through two 30-minute sessions per week, providing legal advocacy through their office at the Lake County Courthouse to assist individuals with orders of protection, and assistance with family visitations and custody visits. To comply with CDC guidelines, A Safe Place’s shelter capacity is limited to 33 beds; an additional 32 clients have been safely moved to alternative locations.

“With an increased need for services, funding has been desperately needed, and we thank Medline for its generous contribution,” said Pat Davenport, CEO of A Safe Place. “As this quarantine has unfolded, and people are forced to shelter in place with their abuser, an increase in domestic violence is another public health crisis we’re experiencing,” says Pat Davenport, CEO of A Safe Place. “We are above capacity in all of our programming offerings, but we must continue to protect our most vulnerable and let them know we are here for them. During this difficult time, we have modified services but our doors remain open. We are doing everything we can to make sure victims of domestic violence and human trafficking are safe and receiving services as needed.”

To donate to A Safe Place to support life-altering services, please visit https://asafeplaceforhelp.org/get-involved/donate-now/. For additional ways to help, please call 847.731.7165.