EVE gets $10,000 gift from Verizon
By Ashley Hill, ahill@mariettatimes.comArticle Photos
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How to help
Cellular phones, batteries and accessories that are no longer being used can be dropped off at the Verizon Wireless store on Pike Street in Marietta.
Items from any cell phone carrier and in any condition will be accepted.
Deadline to drop off items is Dec. 5.
EVE Inc. in Marietta has provided a safe haven for domestic violence and sexual assault victims since 1981.
The group also provides transitional housing, children's programming, peer support groups, advocacy services, counseling, a supervised visitation and exchange center and a 24-hour hot line. More than 3,000 people a year benefit from these services, which are free of charge and financed by fundraisers, grants and community donations.
On Thursday, Verizon Wireless on Pike Street in Marietta became one of those donors when the store's retail sales manager and assistant retail sales manager presented EVE co-directors Janet Wells and Annelle Edwards with a $10,000 check for the organization.
"Part of the money will go toward upgrading our data entry system so we can keep better statistics, but we will also be putting money into prevention programs at EVE," said Wells. "We want to educate the public about prevention."
The funding was made available through Verizon Wireless' HopeLine program, which provides cash grants and cellular phones to shelters and nonprofit organizations that promote domestic violence awareness and prevention.
Cell phones, batteries and accessories that are no longer being used can be dropped off at the Marietta Verizon Wireless Communications Store through Dec. 5. The phones will either be recycled or refurbished and sold. The profits made from selling the phones will be given to EVE to help cover the costs of their programs.
"The company is making a donation to a very worthy organization in the community," said Chad Lockhart, retail sales manager at the local Verizon Wireless store.
Rebecca Cantrell attended the event on behalf of the Ohio Treasurer Kevin Boyce and said the treasurer's office had contributed to Verizon's program in October, which was Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
"We collected 76 phones, 15 cases, 59 chargers, three earpieces and two batteries which will be donated to the HopeLine program," she said.
Marietta Mayor Michael Mullen thanked the store managers for the company's generosity.
"It is uncomfortable for people to discuss the issue of domestic violence and it often gets overlooked. I applaud Verizon for bringing the issue to the forefront," he said.
More than 6 million phones have been collected through the Verizon Wireless national phone drive effort.
