ROCK HILL, S.C. (WBTV) - A Rock Hill center that provides help for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault has lost thousands of dollars of donated food and clothes after a sewage back up.
The Rock Hill-based agency Safe Passage works with domestic violence and sexual assault victims in York, Chester, Lancaster and Union County.
Safe Passage interim Director Jane Alleva says last week's clog at the Oakland Avenue building forced sewage back through the toilets, damaging three counseling offices, a children's play area, the food pantry and the basement where donated clothes are stored. Donations worth thousands of dollars were destroyed due to the water damage and will have to be disposed off as part of the clean-up.
The total damage was $30,000, and crews estimate it could be two months before repairs are complete.
Those donations would have been used to provide clothing, household items, food and other aid for the adults and children who are victims of domestic violence and are starting over with nothing. The donations also would have been used to assist sexual assault victims with clothing and hygiene products.
As a result of the cleanup work and the repairs, Safe Passage can not accept clothing or other item donations until at least August/early September.
"There is grave concern about our ability to provide basic resources to our victims due to the damages sustained to our clothes closet and food pantry. Also at issue is our inability to accept these in-kind donations for the remainder of the summer," Alleva said.
Since Safe Passage doesn't have any place to store additional donations, Alleva is asking people to help by giving cash or gift cards to discount stores or grocery stores.
"At a minimum if we could get help from the community in this way we can at least offer some hope to our victims," she said.
For more information, contact Jane Alleva, interim director for Safe Passage, at 803/329-3336 or mail donations to Safe Passage, P.O. Box 11458, Rock Hill, S.C. 29731.
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