By Dorothy Evans
Childhood sexual abuse – it’s unimaginable to most of us but oh so real. In fact, it happens far more often than one would care to believe. According to the National Center for Victims of Crime, one in five girls and one in 20 boys is a victim of sexual abuse.
When sexual assault is suspected, a physical exam is performed. All exams are conducted at Weiser Hospital by specially trained forensic nurses.
Elevated Forensic Nursing is a team of Forensic nurses contracted with hospitals in rural Idaho and are dedicated to bringing this care to every community.
“Before the exam, all of the child’s clothes are removed and given to the police for DNA testing. Once the forensic nurse completes the exam, ROSE Advocates provides new clothes to the child. After the trauma of the abuse and the embarrassment of the exam, new clothes (not used) help the kids regain some semblance of their self-respect and dignity.
Throughout the month of March, the Weiser Lions are sponsoring a community-wide new clothing drive for abused children ages 5 and up. According to Veronica Vasquez, Assistant Director of ROSE Advocates, four items are needed:
- Underwear
- Pajamas
- Sweatpants
- Leggings
They already have plenty of T-shirts and tops.
Please find it in your heart to donate. The next time you’re in a store or shopping online, toss one or more of these items into your cart. Bright colors and fun designs could bring a much-needed smile to an abused child.
To make it easy for you, the Lions have placed collection drop-boxes at various locations around town. Please look for a box at: Columbia Bank, the Senior Center, Weiser Memorial Hospital business office on State Street, Weiser Community Church, St. Agnes Catholic Church, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and the Weiser Christian Church. If, due to Covid, you’re concerned about going into a business, a box will be placed on the front porch at 1011 E. 2nd Street for your convenience.
The Weiser Lions wish to thank these community-minded churches and businesses for allowing a drop-box at their location. A special thanks to Columbia Bank for letting the Lions maintain drop-boxes for used glasses and aluminum pop tops at their bank year-round. The used glasses are shipped to the less fortunate around the globe and the pop tops are donated to the Ronald McDonald House in Boise. These children deserve our care. Together we can make a difference.
