RUMFORD — Momentum is growing to raise money for Safe Voices after town meeting voters rejected money for the agency, which helps victims of domestic abuse and violence.
Formerly known as the Abused Women’s Advocacy Project, Safe Voices works with victims in Oxford, Franklin and Androscoggin counties.
Newly-elected Selectman Jolene Lovejoy is spearheading the initiative, former Rumford Town Manager Len Greaney said by email last week.
“My wife and I have agreed to start the fundraiser with a token $100 donation,” Greaney said by email to Rumford selectmen Saturday morning.
“Collectively, we need to turn this unfortunate situation into a positive outcome. Domestic violence cannot be left alone as something that will just go away.”
Greaney was referring to a Sun Journal story published June 17 about the June 14 town meeting vote that rejected donating $4,000 to Safe Voices. The vote was 546-708.
News of the fundraising effort was welcomed by Jane Morrison, executive director of Safe Voices.
“Safe Voices is very grateful to the support we have received from the community,” Morrison said Wednesday by email from Auburn.
“While it was devastating and demoralizing to have some citizens of Rumford vote to not fund us — and we do not know if it was the change of the agency’s name on the ballot or not as the reason — certainly the response from the community afterward has been very supportive.”
“We have always enjoyed strong partnerships with the police, hospital, and other community agencies, and the good work of the Task Force on Domestic Violence,” Morrison said.
“We look forward to continuing our strong presence in Rumford as we support the victims and work to end this epidemic of abuse.”
Rumford police Chief Stacy Carter said last week that Safe Voices is an integral part of keeping the Oxford County Domestic Violence Task Force going.
He also said that Rumford police handled 66 domestic violence calls in 2009, 77 in 2010 and are on pace to respond to that many calls this year.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
Success. Please wait for the page to reload. If the page does not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the page.
Enter your email and password to access comments.
Hi, to comment on stories you must . This profile is in addition to your subscription and website login.
Already have a commenting profile? .
Invalid username/password.
Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration.
Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.
Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.