April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. It is also a very special month for the volunteer team here at the WCA, as it is also Volunteer Appreciation Month. This year’s theme for Sexual Assault Awareness Month is “embrace your voice”. For staff and volunteers at the WCA, embracing our voices means speaking out against rape culture and violent behaviors, ending victim blaming, and supporting survivors of domestic abuse and sexual assault.
WCA volunteers embrace their voice every time they assist us with an event, project or in our facilities. They are vital to the work that we do to support survivors. Volunteers help us prepare for events, provide outreach, complete administrative tasks, sort donations in our thrift store and countless other tasks that are important to our day to day operations., Volunteers also serve as lifelines to survivors in the community by using their passion to tell others about us and our services.
When we asked some of our core volunteers what embracing their voice meant to them, this is what we heard:
I may not have been able to help my own sister, but I am helping my other “sisters” in this life. – Bonnie C., administration and thrift store volunteer
Put your best foot forward with a smile on your face. –Kathy G., administration volunteer
My voice is my heart and passion for speaking out in support of the WCA, encouraging victims to become survivors and advocates, and to raise community awareness in the battle against domestic violence and rape. I found my voice through the WCA. I will be silenced in fear no more! –Cindy M., crisis center volunteer
From the volunteer team and the entire WCA staff, thank you so much for embracing your voice and putting that voice to action. You are our greatest champions, strongest advocates, and the foundation of our organization. We appreciate you not only in the month of April, but the work you do all year long is what truly keeps us going!
