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Scouts mission is collecting supplies for women in need
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North Crawford High School senior and Girl Scout KayeLee Salmon has a mission—helping the local domestic violence shelter.

Salmon first became aware of Passages, located in Richland Center, while working to earn her Girl Scout Silver Award last year. Now, working to earn the Gold Award, the Girl Scout’s highest achievement for high school girls, Salmon seeks to continue her work with the organization that offers a safe place to stay and support for anyone affected be domestic violence and sexual assault.

Recognizing that many people fleeing an abusive situation leave with little more than the clothes on their back, Salmon is working to raise funds and supplies to create hygiene kits for each woman entering the shelter and a tie blanket for each child.

A donation of $15 will cover the cost of making both a tie blanket and a personal care kit. The comfort and sense of normalcy they offer in a traumatic situation is worth far more.

In addition to funds, Salmon is seeking donations of clothing, bedding, household items, gently used toys, laundry items, baby items (diapers, wipes, soaps, lotions, etc.), and non-perishable food items.

“Think about what you would want if you just had to up and leave everything behind just to keep yourself and your kids safe,” recommended Salmon in her written plea to the community for support.

With a Friday, Jan. 10 deadline for collecting donations, Salmon is willing to pick items up. Donations can also be dropped off at the Showen Company, 303 Main Street in Gays Mills between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m.

The Showen Company has already made a substantial donation in support of the project, but Salmon is hoping to see the community rally around her cause as well.

“Since all these women live there for free, Passages needs all the help and donations they can get to keep this shelter going,” Salmon said.

Passages is a 20-bed non-profit shelter for individuals needing emergency safety housing. They also operate a 16-unit housing complex for families coming through the shelter or for families with low income. They provide services to any survivor of domestic violence and sexual assault regardless of race, age, sex, religion, color, handicap, physical condition, developmental disability, sexual preference or national origin.

To reach the shelter business office, call 647-8775.

If you or someone you know is a victim of abuse and is in need of assistance, call 800-236-4325.

For those with questions about the project, contact KayeLee’s mom, Becky, at 608-604-7511.