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    RAPE AND CRISIS CENTER OFFERS AROUND THE CLOCK SERVICE

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October 6, 2008

Crisis center offers around-the-clock service

Organization needs volunteers

By Darragh Doiron

Georgine Guillory wants to change what people think about her volunteer work.

“A lot of people think it’s so gruesome and scary … it’s not as gruesome as some people think. You’d be surprised that just holding someone’s hand and just being there with them so they don’t have to feel so alone can have a major impact,” she said.

When Guillory gets a middle-of-the-night phone call, she loads up a fresh change of clothing and heads to the hospital to comfort a sexual assault victim. The Beaumont woman is a medical accompanist for Rape and Suicide Crisis of Southeast Texas Inc. She’s there when victims tell their story to police and medical staff.

It’s a time when just being there is everything.

“Sometimes when we’re in a predicament, we can’t rely on ourselves. We need someone to talk to,” Guillory said.

She brings the change of clothes because the victims’ own clothes are taken as evidence.

“In all those years, and I have the midnight shift, I haven’t really come across anyone that did not want my presence. I always delicately approach the victim and always reassure them that I’m there for them. I’m not there to blame anyone and I try to make them understand in a long conversation that they didn’t provoke this. We usually leave with good feelings about the situation,” Guillory said.

Guillory said she’d be happy if other volunteers would make themselves available to help these women. It’s a rewarding position, she said.

“We always get positive feedback, so I feel really good about that,” she said. “I can’t understand why it’s so hard getting volunteers. The victims are getting younger and younger.”

Cheryl Williams, executive director, said potential volunteers, and those with any sort of crisis, may call 835-3355 or 1 (800)7 WE CARE.

This year’s center budget is $290,914 and comes from individual and church donations as well as the United Way, The Port Arthur Communities Fund, and the Office of the Attorney General of Texas, Sexual Assault and Crisis Service Division.

“We heavily, heavily, heavily rely on contributions,” Williams said.

The center offers counseling and referrals to other agencies.

“Survivors are not alone. Someone is here to help them,” Williams said.



Full circle

Tisha Armstead of Port Arthur HOPE, Helping Our People Excell, said the empowerment center refers women to Rape and Suicide Crisis.

“I was actually conceived from rape. It’s kind of like a full circle for me to be able to see women being helped from that. It’s right up my alley, so I’m so happy we’re going to be able to partner with them,” Armstead said.

She said her group worked with the Port Arthur Police Department after a prostitution sting and Armstead referred a woman to the Crisis center. She said so many rapes and so much violence is not reported, so she encouraged victims to speak up.

Armstead also encourages residents to volunteer their services.

“It’s absolutely wonderful,” Armstead said.

Contact this reporter at ddoiron@panews.com.

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