Butler County’s domestic violence shelter and Armstrong County’s shelter are close enough together that they can house victims from one another’s counties in an emergency, but the two haven’t collaborated on a project until this year.

The Victims Outreach Intervention Center (VOICe) in Butler County and HAVIN: Helping All Victims in Need, in Armstrong County are hosting a 5K fundraiser April 27 at the Worthington Fire Department in Worthington. Tracy Veri, executive director of VOICe, said it is a little surprising this is the first collaboration in the two agencies’ histories.

“We meet a lot together so we're all semi-familiar with each other,” she said. “We have called each other for help and assistance or guidance, but this has never been done before.”

According to Veri, the agencies have an interconnected network where clients of either can request to go to another county, if their situation calls for it. Armstrong County’s shelter is close enough to Butler that VOICe clients can make the trip work, Veri said.

“There are times we've had an extremely lethal situation and say they are probably safer in another county,” she said. “It really comes down to support networks, and if someone has a car, they can go pretty much anywhere.”

The two shelter agencies will have information on hand at the 5K event, and there will also be food trucks present, according to a news release from VOICe and HAVIN. Veri said she hopes even people who don’t plan to participate in the 5K come to the event to learn more about the agencies and their missions.

“If you can't run or walk, please come to get our materials,” Veri said. “The food vendors, they are also donating to the agencies.”

The two nonprofits will split the proceeds from the event half and half, and Laurie Johns, executive director of HAVIN, said the 5K is also meant to boost awareness of domestic violence and abuse throughout both counties.

Veri said all money raised by VOICe is used to buy necessary items for clients.

“That money gets used to help the shelters provide for anything and everything you can think of,” Veri said. “Daily needs, bills, things the clients might need that is above and beyond what we already have.”

Veri said the 5K event is likely just the beginning of a continued partnership between HAVIN and VOICe, which could expand to include other domestic violence agencies.

“We're hoping to do it every year and maybe other events that would make sense for us to do,” Veri said.

The Working Together to End Violence 5K Run & Walk begins at 9 a.m. at the Worthington Fire Department in Worthington. To register or for more information on the event, visit voicebutlercounty.org.