Oct. 23, 2017
Macon — Macon Judicial Circuit Attorney David Cooke announced Monday his donations to Crisis Line and Safe House of Central Georgia and Family Counseling Center of Central Georgia, matching money raised by the organizations through fundraising events.
Additionally, Crisis Line and Safe House will receive $23,582 to buy a generator for the group’s shelter.
The donations will come from the office’s share of funds forfeited as a result of criminal activity.
“I’m grateful that we could use this money to help crime victims in our community. The services these organizations provide will help them heal,” Cooke said.
Crisis Line & Safe House is set to receive $36,990 to match donations raised from Saturday’s Women With Purpose festival at Wesleyan College and other events held in honor of October being National Domestic Violence Awareness month.
The non-profit organization plans to use the donation to help fund renovations needed to open a sexual assault exam center in Macon, said Executive Director Dee Simms.
When Hurricane Irma rolled through Middle Georgia last month, the organization’s shelter for domestic violence victims was filled to capacity and without power for seven days.
Knowing the shelter is located in an area prone to lose power due to trees, Crisis Line and Safe House had applied for a grant to buy a generator in the past, but wasn’t successful.
Stability is very important to victims who are recovering — both medically and emotionally — from domestic violence, Simms said.
“This generator will allow the shelter and hotline to continue providing uninterrupted services to clients, ensuring clients don’t feel the need to reach out to an abuser for support due to unexpected events,” Simms said. “It takes a lot for a victim to reach out for help so Crisis Line & Safe House wants to make sure we are able to provide assistance when the victim is ready, because we recognize they may not reach out again.”
Cooke also is set to give Family Counseling Center of Central Georgia $6,533 to match donations raised through the non-profit’s First Annual 100 Sporting Clay Tournament held earlier this month.
The money will be used to help the center provide free services to victims of domestic violence, rape, child abuse and other crimes.
“So often in a crime people forget there’s another side. There’s a person who has been violated in some way. That person deserves an opportunity to get the support, to get their life back together so they can move forward,” said Executive Director Frank Mack.
Since 2015 the Macon Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office has donated more than $416,000 to organizations that provide victim services, diversion programs and early intervention services that aim to help area families.
Contact: Amy Leigh Womack
478-621-6179
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District Attorney David Cooke with Crisis Line and Safe House Executive Director Dee Simms
District Attorney David Cooke with Family Counseling Center of Central Georgia Executive Director Frank Mack