Sitting in a room where a young woman is telling about how she survived being raped is something I will never forget.
She wanted us to understand the ways that the Central MN Sexual Assault Center (CMSAC) helped her get through the aftermath. She attended support groups, was helped through their advocacy in her reporting of the crime and one to one listening. Time has passed and healing occurred. She is now a trained advocate helping others. Her courage, her future focus in everything she said was clear.
Hearing her story and learning about CMSAC's work in our local communities was part of the annual visit our United Way Community Investment Team volunteers have with each program United Way funds. From Peg LaDue, CMSAC director, and a CMSAC board member, volunteers learned about their presentations in schools focused on prevention and their relationships with hospitals and law enforcement that help ensure that women and men and children are treated in the most thorough and respectful ways. In these meetings, our volunteers also learn about their goals, challenges, how they conduct outreach, partnerships they have established in the community to strengthen their work, staffing and how they utilize the skills of volunteers. Volunteers review their annual audits, income/expenses and budget projections.
One other thing they shared should be a fact known by us all: Last year, the local Central Minnesota Sexual Assault Center which covers our local four-county area had 483 new cases/new people last year. 52% of them were under age 18, our children and youth. They ranged in age, infants to teenagers.
If you ever doubt that a gift to United Way can make a difference in someone's life. Think again.
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