National Coalition Against Domestic Violence fails to respond to victim in need
By: Maria Phelps
About a month ago I referred a domestic violence victim to a program I believed in, The Cosmetic and Reconstructive Support Program. This program was started by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence and supports surgeries for women scarred by abuse. This program is for survivors of domestic violence and every year many donate to this program, thinking that it’s reaching victims of this brutal crime. Last October I was in contact with one of the Coalition’s representatives, Holly Barret. I informed her and the Coalition about my efforts in raising money throughout my community for their program and they were delighted. We spoke on the telephone, through email, and we were constantly in touch. A few months later, I mailed the Coalition a check, a check for this program I supported and they were thrilled with my work, they even sent me a sterling pin to say thank you. Throughout the following months I sent emails to this woman and left messages, I had questions about the Coalition I needed answered, I needed their support. They never returned my phone calls or my emails. I continued, no response. They did send me something in the mail, a form to fill out for donations. I even had questions about that, about the donations, and they never got back to me.
One month ago I referred a victim who has suffered through horrific acts of domestic violence to this very program, the same program I raised money for in many communities. This woman is a survivor who has serious dental problems and scarring on her face due to domestic abuse, what better candidate for this program? So, I sent an email out to my Coalition contact, the same person I sent money to, and let her know that this woman would be in touch and is in need of help. I gave the survivor the contact information and the website, thinking the Coalition would be in contact with her immediately…that is their job, to help victims. Tonight this woman has emailed me back, with graphic photos.
Here is her email:
“I am waiting for the form to fill it out and send it. I didn’t receive any kind of response from the person that you suggested to contact, but I already requested the applications. I will include some pictures of me so that you can see some of my situation. As you can see the injuries are a lot but I will just ask for repair on my teeth and if possible my face. I feel really embarrassed to show you these pictures of me but I know you will not judge me and will understand, some people don’t.”
I have to express my opinions here, and I hope the Coalition finds this post in the future, I am appalled at the lack of response from this large “non-profit” organization. I was insulted myself, after giving money to this organization and being ignored shortly after that, but this has completely shocked and disgusted me. To ignore a victim in need, and, at the same time, claim to assist domestic violence victims is something that doesn’t make any sense to me, or the organization I am involved with (SIA). The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence has disappointed me in the past, wasting time on considering changing the domestic violence awareness month, but this is shameful. I passed along a victim in need of surgery to the exact program I raised money for, all to find that the Coalition does not respond to this woman in need of dental surgery and facial reconstruction. That’s two victims of violence the Coalition has ignored this year, not counting all the other women I don’t know about, and that’s inexcusable.
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