New Hope seeks volunteers, funds

MOSES LAKE - The New Hope agency, which helps victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, is looking for help from the community to continue some programs that have lost funding.

The agency will lose a grant that helps find and arrest people who violate protection orders, and some of the funding for their protection order application clinic, Director Danielle Hill said. But the real concern of agency officials is manpower, she said, because the lost revenue will require two employees to be laid off, and two other employees who left won't be replaced.

"We provide all domestic violence and sexual assault services in Grant and Adams counties," Hill said. That includes a 24-hour crisis line, support for victims while they're at the hospital, legal and medical advocacy afterwards, victim services and a confidential shelter for victims, she said.

"Everyone in our department is trained to do everything," Hill said, so the services will continue. "However, the staffing is the problem." That's especially true for the protection order clinic, which helps victims fill out the application for a protection order, she said.

There's adequate staff now, and through the end of September, but maybe not after that. "We definitely need volunteers," Hill said.

New Hope also is looking for any and all donations, Hill said. The organization hasn't done much fundraising, she said, because its grant funding and private gifts always have been adequate.

That may not be the case now, Hill said. Any donation would be appreciated, "anything at all," she said.

People who want to volunteer, donate or help in other ways can contact Hill at 509-764-8402, or dhill@co.grant.wa.us.