Illinois State House District 61 issued the following announcement on Oct. 10
As October marks the beginning of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, state Rep. Joyce Mason, D-Gurnee, is sponsoring a Birthday Party Supplies Drive in conjunction with her Women’s Advisory Council through Oct. 16. Children’s birthday party supplies can be brought to any of Rep. Mason’s upcoming events, or dropped off at her district office at 36100 Brookside Dr., Suite LL 60 in Gurnee.
“It’s easy to forget how women and children sacrifice everyday luxuries while escaping dangerous situations at home. Oftentimes, domestic violence survivors have just minutes to leave their homes and leave most of their belongings at the home. Children who are facing a domestic violence situation have enough to worry about and enough to sacrifice, and giving them an opportunity to maintain the normalcy of something as routine as a birthday party is so important to helping these kids heal and move forward,” Mason said. “The birthday in a bag kits are a small gesture to ensure that, even during the most difficult times, children being served by our local domestic violence shelters are able to celebrate their birthday with their families just like every other kid.”
Recently, Rep. Mason received the Friends of the Alliance Award from the Northwest Suburban Alliance on Domestic Violence. Mason has worked tirelessly in her community as a volunteer and board member of Zion’s A Safe Place, and in Springfield as a vocal advocate for survivors. This year, she helped to pass a bipartisan, balanced budget that includes $21 million in funding for domestic violence shelters across Illinois.
“I have always been a strong advocate for survivors of domestic violence and their families, because I understand how important community-based and government support is to helping survivors and their families get back on their feet and thrive,” Mason said. “I am committed to continue fighting to ensure that survivors of domestic violence have access to potentially lifesaving services.”
For more information on how Rep. Mason is fighting for survivors, please contact Mason’s full-time constituent service office at 847-485-9986 or email info@repjoycemason.com.
Original source can be found here.
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