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2007 Supply Drive
NOMAS-Boston collects over 50 boxes of supplies
and over $300 in cash donations. See photos...
Men gathered in Porter Sq. on October 13, 2007, to take a stand against domestic violence. They were there to collect donations for two local women’s shelters by asking costumers to purchase a few extra items and leave them in boxes to be delivered to the shelters. At the end of the day they had collected over 50 boxes of supplies and over $300 in cash donations.
The donations went to HarborCOV (Harbor Communities Overcoming Violence), in Chelsea and the Elizabeth Stone House, a shelter in Jamaica Plain that recently experienced a devastating fire at their emergency shelter.
“It’s important to help out these organizations with real, tangible contributions, but it’s also important for us to be able to talk with people in the community about this issue that affects so many of us,” said Sylvain Bruni, a grad student from MIT. The supply drive was coordinated by the Boston chapter of the National Organization for Men Against Sexism (NOMAS-Boston), working with students from MIT, Harvard, Brandeis, Emerson and other community members. The Boston chapter of NOMAS was established in 2000 and works to get men involved in pro-feminist issues as well as show the connections between sexism, racism and homophobia. “This is the first time that we’ve worked with students from local campuses and it’s been really great. They’re help has made all the difference,” said Robbie Samuels, co-chair of the organization.
Response to the event, which occurred during National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, was clearly positive, with many customers not only making the effort to put some extra items in their carts, but many also stopped to talk with the men hosting the event about this issue. The public may be painfully familiar with statistics showing domestic violence and sexual assault are still pervasive problems with great human and financial costs. The groups cite U.S. Dept. of Justice statistics showing abuse at home is the #1 cause of injury to women, and the #1 cause of emergency room visits by women. In addition, children who witness domestic violence are more likely to attempt suicide, abuse drugs and alcohol, run away from home, or commit sexual assault themselves. Many customers expressed their gratitude for being offered a way to make a difference in this issue that can, perhaps, seem overwhelming and distant.
"This event represents the growing recognition that countering domestic violence—largely caused by men and leaving adult women and children as victims—is in fact a 'men’s issue' as well as a 'women’s issue,'” said Matt Meyer, NOMAS-Boston co-chair.
