Shower for the Shelter


Verizon employees turned out in force to support the Verizon Foundation's second "Shower for the Shelter" donation drive, flooding collection centers with more than double the number of donations received during the drive last year.

To make a difference in the campaign against the national epidemic of domestic violence, Verizon employees were asked to donate essential household and personal items - the kind of basic necessities, such as shampoo, toothpaste, diapers and deodorant that are in desperately short supply at domestic violence shelters across the nation.

Employees responded to the call by turning in more than $400,000 in donations at 379 locations around the country during the April 1-11 drive, donations that will benefit more than 250 local shelters throughout the United States. The impact of this tremendous generosity is already being felt.

Peggy Joy Sullivan, the community outreach coordinator at ACTS/Turning Points in northern Virginia, wrote to the Verizon Foundation to express her gratitude for the "three very, very large boxes" of donations received at the East Shelter.

"The members of our community make a huge positive difference in our outreach to families where there is domestic violence," Sullivan said. "Your group gave -- not only in great abundance with the toiletries -- but they also wanted to learn more. Some may even invest in additional training so that they can become volunteers. That is something for your company to celebrate."

Domestic violence remains the single largest cause of injury to women between the ages of 15 and 44 in the United States - more than muggings, car accidents and rapes combined. The "Shower for the Shelter" drive is an easy way for individual employees to help to ease the trauma of domestic violence.

Verizon is proud of the thousands of employees who gave so much in this latest "Shower for the Shelter" drive, and of the 875 volunteers who manned the collection centers. For all the victims of domestic violence in shelters around the country, the generosity of Verizon's employees will help them take their first steps toward a new life free of abuse.

Verizon Foundation Domestic Violence Prevention page

  • Visit the Domestic Violence Prevention page to learn more about what the Verizon Foundation is doing to prevent domestic violence and increase awareness about it.

Help Is Available for Victims

If you are a victim of domestic violence, you're advised to do one of the following:

  • Contact a local domestic-violence shelter;
  • Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or 1-800-787-3224 (TTY);.
  • Dial #HOPE from your Verizon Wireless phone.

Employees who are victims of domestic violence also can call Verizon's Employee Assistance Program, VZ-LIFE, on 800-8450632, or request a call from an EAP counselor by visiting the VZ-LIFE Web site at www.verizon.com/life. The program offers professional and confidential assistance 24 hours a day, seven days a week.