SR collection benefits women's, LGBT groups
Slippery Rock University is collecting women’s essential supply items, such as clothing and hygiene products, until March 22, in observance of Women’s History Month.
The drive will benefit Proud Haven and the Women’s Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh, which Lyosha Gorshkov, assistant director of the Women’s and Pride centers at Slippery Rock, said have been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic. Both are located in Pittsburgh, but Gorshkov said the Women’s Center chose them as beneficiaries because they also help LGBTQ individuals.
“COVID-19 hit those organizations very badly, and they always need products,” Gorshkov said. “It was important to support one of the LGBT organizations, and we could find them in Pittsburgh.”
Nicole Molinaro, president and CEO of the Women’s Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh, said Thursday that the organization has several sources that provide funding and supplies, but donations from the community play a big part in their function.
“Donations from individuals are absolutely critical,” Molinaro said. “That’s what keeps us able to provide our clients, who are both in-shelter and not in-shelter, with necessities.”
According to Gorshkov, the Slippery Rock Women’s Center hosts events and activities every March to help students learn about women’s history, and also engages with different organizations and people relating to women’s community action.
Gorshkov said he wants to highlight organizations focused on LGBTQ individuals as well.
“Usually, for Women’s History Month, we try to schedule the calendar based on all events relating to Women’s History Month from different entities and different stakeholders,” Gorshkov said. “We highlight transgender and intersex people throughout history to just let someone learn something about transgender identity, so that’s a huge project. The gender studies program has two panels, mental health and masculinity, and they’re going to have one on Black maternity.”
This is the first year Slippery Rock has held this particular kind of supply drive.
Items being taken in bins across Slippery Rock’s campus include perishable and non-perishable food items, hand sanitizer, soap, detergent and other cleaning products that Molinaro said the shelter distributes in essentials bags it developed to help people during the pandemic. Additionally, the drive is collecting linens, towels, silverware, air mattresses and tote bags, which Molinaro said can be given to clients the shelter is helping move into new homes.
Molinaro also said the pandemic has led to a rise in domestic violence because many factors that can lead to abuse have been accentuated by the coronavirus and shelter-in-place orders, including extended periods indoors.
Molinaro said anyone experiencing domestic abuse or violence can call the Victim Outreach Intervention Center’s 24-hour hotline at 1-800-400-8551 for help.
