FARMINGTON – Volunteering with the Sexual Assault Victims Emergency Services, Inc. (SAVES) 24-hour Sexual Assault Crisis & Support Helpline can be a life-changing experience for people who want to help others. By supporting people who call our helpline, volunteers encourage a social climate in which every human being has the right to live without fear of sexual violence. They support people in crisis, provide information to family and loved ones, help to dispel myths, and learn valuable listening and communicating skills. The amazing individuals who donate their time provide 5,840 volunteer hours to SAVES every year!
The next advocate training will begin in early February and will conclude by early May. All sessions will meet at the SAVES office, located at 227 Main Street, Floor 2, Holman House in Farmington. This course is available free of charge in exchange for one year of helpline volunteering. Applicants must be 18 years or older. No previous experience is required, just a kind heart and the compassion to listen. UMF credit may be available to qualified students. We are especially interested in having established community members join our team.
Participants in the class will receive specialized training in basic crisis intervention skills as well as information about our local legal and medical system’s response to sexual violence. Advocates will have the use of a pager while they are on-call and would be reimbursed for any expenses. Supportive ongoing supervision will be provided.
We all have the potential to be incredibly helpful to people in need of support by helping to provide a compassionate ear and a sense that no one has to be alone in a time of crisis. SAVES volunteers find that being able to help someone else through a difficult time in their life can be a wonderfully rewarding experience. Help make a difference in the lives of others – become a helpline volunteer today! For more information and/or an application, call or write: Julia Terry, Community Outreach and Education Coordinator, SAVES, Inc., PO Box 349, Farmington, ME, 04938. 207-778-9522 or e-mail: jterry@savesrapecrisis.org.
SAVES, proud to be supported by the Tri-Valley area United Way, serves all of Franklin County. The 24-hour Support Line telephone number is 1-800-871-7741. (1-866-740-9516 if using a cell phone, TTY: 1-800-458-5599).
