University of Maryland groups are collecting blankets, stuffed animals and gift cards to provide comfort for sexual assault survivors at a local hospital.
With an April 30 deadline approaching, University of Maryland student leaders and campus offices are urging donations for an annual drive providing comfort items for survivors at Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Medical Center.
The drive, which launched March 2, runs for two months and coincides with Sexual Assault Awareness Month in April. The project collects new blankets, stuffed animals and $10 restaurant gift cards.
The University Health Center initiated the project this year, partnering with campus groups to pool resources and broaden awareness efforts.
Organizers include the Student Government Association, the University of Maryland Police Department, and the University Health Center’s CARE to Stop Violence Office.
Misha Yadav, a sophomore finance major and SGA co-director of the Sexual Misconduct Prevention Committee, said the blankets and stuffed animals offer a personal touch to survivors.Â
“A lot of victims have a lot of trauma and can be very scared,” she said. “Having … something that feels personal helps you know that someone cares about you.”
Grace Fansler Boudreau, the program director for CARE to Stop Violence, said that forensic medical exams can make survivors feel like a “crime scene.”Â
“It can feel very isolating for survivors because they have just been physically victimized,” Boudreau said.
Gift cards help survivors buy a meal after an exam. Because they are advised not to eat or shower before an exam, a gift card removes one small burden, Boudreau said.
The donation drive is part of a series of initiatives hosted by the CARE Office during Sexual Assault Awareness Month, including events like the Clothesline Project and Take Back the Night.Â
“It’s a good way to keep reminding students that this is an ongoing issue and that we have resources and awareness for it,” Yadav said.
The CARE Office is also set to host Denim Day on April 29 on McKeldin Mall, encouraging students to wear denim to speak out against victim blaming and show support for survivors.
Donations are accepted through April 30 at the SORC, the Memorial Chapel, the LGBTQ+ Equity Center or the CARE Office. Gift Cards must be dropped off at the CARE Office only.