Donate Your Gently Used Household Items to Victims of Domestic Violence

DES MOINES, IA (04/29/2010)(readMedia)-- Last year, seven Iowans were killed as a result of domestic violence. These deaths brought the 15 year total of domestic violence-related deaths to 200. Twenty-five of those victims were children. An additional 162 minor children who are survivors of women and men killed by their partners are left to cope with this tragedy. For surviving domestic violence victims, hope remains for a brighter future.

For the third consecutive year, the FreeStore's Fill the Mayflower event will be held in partnership with Children & Families of Iowa (CFI), Select Van and Storage--a Mayflower company, Valley West Mall and Iowa Barbeque Society. The goal of this event is to fill the Mayflower trailer with donations of household items for victims of domestic violence. This year's event will be held Friday, May 14 through Sunday, May 16 in the southwest corner of the Valley West Mall parking lot-corner of Westown Parkway and Valley West Drive. Donations of new or gently used household items will be accepted, such as furniture, kitchen items, bed linens and small appliances. In addition, monetary donations are always welcome.

The FreeStore is a nonprofit organization that provides gently used household items to victims of domestic violence. Children & Families of Iowa's Domestic Violence Services helped 2,482 individuals last year. Many of those victims received items from the FreeStore so that they could start their life over again, free of violence.

"We are very fortunate to have this service available to our clients," says Marlene Wozniczka, CFI's Domestic Violence Services Program Supervisor. "Many of these individuals want to start over, but have little resources to do so. We are fortunate to partner with the FreeStore in their efforts to support victims of domestic violence as they begin a new violence-free life."

To participate, bring your gently-used household items to the Mayflower semi-truck parked at Valley West Mall. Stick around for lunch, provided by the Iowa Barbeque Society, on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. with a $5 free will donation. For those individuals who wish to participate but are unable to drop off items during the event, Select Van and Storage will pick up items from your house. Please call 515.223.8329 to arrange a pick-up time.

Thanks to our donors, the FreeStore was able to provide household goods to over 650 victims of domestic violence and their families last year. For more information or a complete list of items needed, please visit www.thefreestore.org or call 515.223.8329.

About Children & Families of Iowa

Children & Families of Iowa is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to restoring hope, building futures and changing lives throughout Iowa. With offices in Fort Dodge, Des Moines, Ankeny, Osceola and Centerville, Children & Families of Iowa is restoring hope for victims of domestic violence, helping teens find their futures, creating safe homes for children, preparing children to succeed and helping people reshape their lives. Last year, Children & Families of Iowa served more than 21,000 individuals in all of Iowa's 99 counties. Please visit www.cfiowa.org for more information.

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