PARSIPPANY — The Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany conducted a clothing drive for Jersey Battered Women’s Service (JBWS). Karen DeChristopher, Co-Director Young Children Priority One chaired the efforts of the committee seeking donations of children’s socks, pajamas, underwear and winter hats for ages three to sixteen, both male and female.
IHOP, 792 Route 46, Arlington Shopping Center, and Boiling Springs Savings Bank, 66 North Beverwyck Road were major drop-off locations to bring the items. In addition, the Sons of Italy donated gift cards to help purchase some of the items needed; The Township of Parsippany employees also collected and donated items.
First Baptist Community Church, 800 Vail Road and Parsippany Hills High School Key Club members also participated and collected the needed items. Littleton School K-Kids collected over 100 books to be donated to the children.
Karen DeChristopher said “It’s great when so many people care and donate to a great organization. We received more items than we ever expected. I want to thank everyone involved in helping Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany making a difference in our community.”
Domestic violence or abuse is when one person controls or coerces the other in an intimate relationship. It is about power and control. Abusers choose to use physical violence or emotional battering to express anger and gain control. They are not provoked to use violence; they alone are responsible for their inappropriate and unacceptable behavior. Domestic violence is a crime and can result in the abuser being removed or restrained from the home and/or jailed.
Jersey Battered Women’s Service in Morris County is a full-service domestic violence and domestic abuse prevention agency with volunteer opportunities. The services include a 24-hour hotline; counseling; safe house; transitional living; children’s services; life skills education; vocational counseling; batterers’ intervention; legal assistance; teen dating violence services; and professional training, education and youth prevention programs.
In 1976, a small group of women in Morris County began a helpline to aid victims of domestic violence. When two of these callers were murdered by their husbands, the need for a confidential shelter became urgent.
From its grass-roots beginnings, Jersey Battered Women’s Service opened its shelter doors to the community in late December 1978. Now, JBWS is a full-service, private, nonprofit domestic violence agency.
The mission of JBWS is the prevention of domestic violence through the protection and empowerment of the victim, the rehabilitation of family members, the advocacy of social reform to prevent partner violence, and the education of the public about domestic violence and its consequences.
Their vision is to create a community-wide culture that refuses to tolerate the presence of any form of family or partner violence.
Jersey Battered Women’s Service Administrative number is (973) 267-7520 or contact their 24-Hour Helpline at (973) 267-4763.
Kiwanis International is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to changing the world one child and one community at a time. Our members, Kiwanians, are service-minded men and women who are united in their commitment and compassion for others.
Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany raises funds and donates to the Parsippany Food Pantry, Parsippany-Troy Hills Public Library, Parsippany PAL Youth Center, Parsippany High School Scholarship Program, Parsippany Hills High School Scholarship Program, Parsippany Child Day Center, Prevent Child Abuse-New Jersey, Camp Nejeda, NJ Sharing Network, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of Parsippany, Parsippany Project Graduation, Jersey Battered Women’s Services, Family Promise of Morris County, Parsippany Little League West, Parsippany Little League East to name a few.
Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany meets Thursday mornings at 7:15 a.m. at Empire Diner, 1315 Route 46. We are always looking for new volunteers. Join us for breakfast and find out about our organization. For more information, click here.
