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Women of Steel look over the various items collected.
Women of Steel look over the various items collected.

Women of Steel toiletry drive a success

Thu, Dec 22nd 2016 05:50 pm

Score another success for The Women of Steel of Niagara Falls.

For the second year, the USW Local 9434 Women of Steel group began collecting toiletries and pillows in early November, as part of its goal to better the community by encouraging charitable contributions for the holiday season. 

"We are so excited to have been able to help Passage House again this year in our second annual Women of Steel toiletry drive!" commented Brook D'Angelo, Women of Steel chair.

Over the past month, Women of Steel volunteers placed collection baskets in a number of Niagara Falls locations, including the city Department of Public Works; Niagara Falls Community Development; the Earl W. Brydges Library on Main Street; Niagara Falls City Clerk's office; Niagara Falls Water Board administration and waste water treatment plant; and the Niagara Falls Fire Department administration offices.

"We are thrilled with the response!" D'Angelo said. "We collected about 35 pillows, and thousands of toiletries. City workers and friends were so generous with things like shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant, body wash and more."

A program of Family and Children's Services of Niagara, Passage House Shelter is a 15-bed domestic violence shelter that serves Niagara Falls, North Tonawanda and western Niagara County. The facility provides free emergency shelter in a confidential location to individuals who are victims of domestic violence and their children. The shelter is staffed 24/7, and assistance is available in response to the needs of victims of domestic violence and their children any time of the day or night.

Its Passage House program provides crisis intervention and counseling services to victims of domestic violence and their children, in a safe, secure, comfortable, home-like setting, so that the healing process can begin.

"We are grateful for Passage House and all they do to serve our community," D'Angelo said.

She pointed out Passage house has served more than 120 women and children thus far in 2016. The facility been open for over 25 years, and assisted many families through their most traumatic and difficult times.

"This is one of those collections where need truly knows no season," D'Angelo added. "We hope that our efforts will supply the women and children of Passage House with comforts of home for months to come.

"We look forward to working with them again in the future!"

For more information, visit http://niagarafamily.org/our-services/domestic-violence-services or contact Director Karrie Gebhardt at 716-285-6984.

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