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Stalking: It’s not a joking matter-
Kaylynn Cairns, Teen Sexual Violence Prevention Educator
Stalking is something our society jokes about on a regular basis. Many times people are exhibiting stalking with the use of technology like Facebook, Instagram, etc. “Stalking is a pattern of behavior that makes you feel afraid, nervous, harassed, or in danger. It is when someone repeatedly contacts you, follows you, sends you things, talks to you when you don’t want them to, or threatens you” (victimsofcrime.org).
If you are a victim of stalking please keep some of these things in mind:
- Save all forms of contact: email, text messages, voicemails, record any phone calls if possible, notes, threatening messages, etc. Make sure these are digital as well as hard copies in case something was to happen to your documentation.
- Find support with family and friends who understand your situation.
- Consider getting legal help or talking with law enforcement or local prosecutors to see if you have a case.
- Contact Diane Peppler Resource Center to receive services for victims of stalking including shelter, counseling, outreach services, legal advocacy, etc.
Stalking is not a joking matter for victims of stalking. Many of our victims are put under strict limitations. When a victim of stalking comes forward usually there is more evidence needed to actually file charges against their stalker. This requires the victims to change their phone numbers including limiting their calls and changing their number. Victims are required as well to limit, or end all, electronic presence, especially on social media sites. They are also required to change all of their patterns and habits.
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Human Trafficking: It’s in Our Community-
Kaylynn Cairns, Teen Sexual Violence Prevention Educator
According to Polaris, an organization working to end Human Trafficking, here are some of the signs to look for that may be an indicator of trafficking:
Michigan is one of the highest ranked states for Human Trafficking. Due to our location, access to waterways and borders, the state is a good location for trafficking to take place. Human Trafficking is considered a modern form of slavery that is occurring across the state, country, and world. Trafficking is using a lot of technology to recruit and list jobs for those stuck in slavery. According to the National Human Trafficking Hotline there was over 650 calls from the state of Michigan and over 190 cases reported. These numbers have been consistently on the rise since the hotlines creation in 2007.
- Person is not free to leave or come and go as they wish.
- Is unpaid or paid very little.
- Work excessively long and/or unusual hours.
- Is not allowed breaks or suffers under unusual restrictions at work.
- Owes a large debt is unable to pay it off.
- Recruited through false promises concern nature and conditions of work.
- High security measures exist in the work and/or living locations.
- Person may feel fearful, anxious, depressed, submissive, tense, and/or nervous/paranoid.
- Lack of health care, malnourished, and/or shows signs of physical and/or sexual abuse.
- Few personal possessions, if any.
Some of the biggest signs people can recognize are things that just seem “off” or “don’t seem right.” A recent case in West Michigan found a older male was recruiting teenage girls and taking them about an hour south into a large city to work over the weekend. Rather than being paid in money they were paid in clothes and technology. They told their parents they were staying at friends over the weekend and would come home with these electronics. It was a parent who finally realized there was no way they could get these types of goods just by working their after school job and babysitting as their child was describing. The child finally told their parents what they were doing on the weekends. So if it “seems weird” ask questions, be a safe person for someone to confide in, and do not think it can’t happen here. It is happening in all 50 states and we are seeing it within our community.
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From the Director
Betsy Huggett, Executive Director
Welcome to 2017! As we usher in the New Year, we ponder about the past year and evaluate resolutions for the new year. The past year is about focusing on the good and the bad, learning lessons that will help us grow and to become better at what we do. I see resolutions as goals to work towards and hopefully accomplish. We have had so many wonderful events throughout 2016 at Diane Peppler Resource Center. With each event comes the opportunity to reach out to those in our community who may not know about our services.
We branched out into an area that we had not participated in previously. We hosted several Feeding America food trucks and distributed thousands of pounds of food to the needy in Chippewa County as well as at Project Homeless Connect in Luce County. It was so amazing to see the amount of volunteers who came out to help us from the local entities in our service area. The Sault Ste. Marie Police Department, the Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection agents, Great Lakes Recovery Centers-Men’s and Women’s New Hope Houses, the Soo Eagles Hockey players, Dennis McShane and his family, John Leigh from the American Legion (who is completely amazing), Sara Gordon from the Salvation Army and the many Salvation Army volunteers, Angela Bell and lastly, all the volunteers that found their way there via facebook posts made those events an amazing collaboration of goodwill in our community.
As we turn our focus to resolutions, I researched some mindful resolutions for 2017. Just to be more mindful is a great resolution but what does it mean? Mindfulness is defined as the quality or state of being conscious or aware of something. So if you are working on your goals, do it mindfully. One resolution is to lead by example. It is easy to adopt a “do as I say, not as I do” attitude. Anyone with children in their lives understand that this is not the best way to approach leadership. Children will copy what we do and then we wonder why they do it when the results are not always the best. Take some time today and observe your interactions with others and ask the question, “Am I performing as my best self in all interactions?” People will follow your lead, both positive and negative.
We simply ask all of the people in our communities to become leaders of change against violent behavior towards others. Let 2017 be the year that we become upstanders against violence and let others know that it is not ok. Let them hear our voice when we say violent behavior only teaches more violent behavior. Let 2017 be the best year yet!
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Welcome Molly and Jennifer!
This month, we welcome two new staff members to our team. Our new Sexual Assault Advocate is Molly Hartman and our new Civil Legal Attorney is Jennifer Constantino.
Jennifer is a licensed attorney in the state of Michigan and works as the Title IX Deputy Director for Lake Superior State University. She has worked closely with us in the past on Title IX issues and as a member of our Sexual Violence Prevention Team.
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Molly is a graduate of Lake Superior State University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology. She completed her undergraduate internship with us last fall and we are more than happy to have her continue working with us when she finished her degree.
These added positions come to us from the recent acquisition of another Victims of Crime Act Grant that we had applied for. We are so thankful to be adding to the skill set of the DPRC staff by adding these two amazing women.
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Chippewa County Sexual Assault Response Team (SART)
Carole Yeomans and Betsy Huggett attended their first Sexual Assault Response Team meeting in December. These meetings are attended by members of all law enforcement agencies in our jurisdiction, medical professionals, DHHS workers, and the prosecutors office to coordinate and discuss current sexual assault crimes in this area. This is a great way to ensure that justice and assistance can be given to victims that come forward to report their sexual assaults. Our new Sexual Assault Advocate, Molly Hartman, will also start attending these meetings as well. All of us here at DPRC are proud to be working toward a better collaboration of leaders against sexual assault.
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White Out Hockey Games are back this February!
In connection with the White Out Campaign, the Sault Ste. Marie White Out hockey games are back this February. Mark your calendars, folks! There's going to be giveaway items at both events from the Diane Peppler Resource Center and the Sexual Violence Prevention Team!
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Feb. 3rd at the Pullar Stadium in Sault Ste. Marie is the Soo Eagles White Out Hockey Game! Puck drop is at 7:30pm.
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Feb. 10th at the Taffy Abel Arena in the Norris Center of LSSU is the Lakers White Out Hockey Game! Puck drop is at 7:30pm.
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Luce Co. Corner
"A special message from our Luce Co. Advocate, Jessica Roberts."
Special Thank You:
Diane Peppler Resource Center would like to thank the Members of the Newberry Area Ministerial Administration (NAMA) for inviting us to speak at your December meeting. We are greatly looking forward to working collaboratively with you to better serve survivors and their families.
Join Us – Women’s Support Group:
If you are a woman who is a survivor of Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault, come join us! This support group is free and confidential. Come get the support you need, or have been looking for, from other women who have experienced what you are going through. Express your feelings and concerns within a safe environment, with people who care. Please call 906-293-4853 for the location and time of the groups!
Upcoming this January:
Domestic Violence Task Force
Diane Peppler Resource Center will be joining forces with local Law Enforcement, the Victim’s Advocate, and the Prosecuting Attorney to form a Domestic Violence Task Force. The Force is dedicated to eradicating domestic violence within Luce County. We will be working as a joined effort to hold perpetrators accountable, enhance victims’ safety, and promote prevention within our home community.
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We gladly accept donated items as well as monetary donations. Here is the current wishlist of DPRC in no particular order:
- Towels—all sizes and in good condition
- Socks (new) - all sizes for women and children
- Trash Bags
- Clothes Hangers
- Plastic Storage Bins
- New Unopened Packages of Underwear - all sizes for women and children
- Laundry Detergent, Fabric Softener, and Dryer Sheets
- Deodorant
- TVs & DVD Players
- Family Friendly Movies
- Twin and Full Size Mattresses and Box Springs
- Twin Size Bedding
- New Pillows
- Unopened over the counter medications
- First aid kits
- Feminine products - Tampons, pads, razors, shaving cream, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, lotions, etc.
- New or Very Gently Used Children’s Toys
- Hand soaps
- Baby Monitors
- Small Household Furniture
- Kitchen Items such as pots and pans, untensils, and kife sets
- Organizational Items
- Unexpired Food Items and Non-Perishable Items
- Baby Diapers (all sizes), Baby Wipes, and Pull-Ups
- Baby Hygiene Items (shampoo, baby wash , etc.)
- Household cleaning products
- Gift cards to local stores
- &&Much More!
If you have any questions about what you can donate, call 906-635-0566.
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You can shop online at smile.amazon.com to make those same exact purchases and they will make a donation to the Diane Peppler Resource Center every time that you purchase from their website! AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support Diane Peppler Resource Center every time you shop, at no cost to you. You will see eligible products marked “Eligible for AmazonSmile donation” on their product detail pages. On your first visit to AmazonSmile ( smile.amazon.com), you need to select Diane Peppler Resource Center to receive donations from eligible purchases before you begin shopping. They will remember your selection, and then every eligible purchase you make at smile.amazon.com will result in a donation to the shelter. The AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price from your eligible AmazonSmile purchases. All of us here at DPRC sure will appreciate the time you take to switch to shopping with AmazonSmile and we want to thank you so much for all of your support! |
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If you are a victim, or are a friend or family member of a victim, in need of support, here are local support group options hosted by the Diane Peppler Resource Center that you are more than welcome to attend. If you have questions about locations, times, or topics of discussion please call us at 1-800-882-1515
Chippewa County
Domestic Violence Group
Every Thursday
6pm-8pm
Sexual Violence Group
Every Tuesday
6pm-8pm
Mackinac County
Walk in anytime
8am-4pm
Monday—Friday
246 Ferry Lane
St. Ignace MI
Luce County
Walk in anytime
8am-4pm
Monday—Friday
407 W. Harrie St.
Newberry MI
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You can donate to our shelter using the PayPal link on our website www.dprcenter.org
The Diane Peppler Resource Center uses monetary donations to purchase specific items for residents when the items are not donated or can't be donated. This can include but is not limited to: undergarments, medications, and specific dietary restriction food items.
All donations are tax deductible. Donation receipts available upon request.
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We would like to thank all of the donors who supported the Diane Peppler Resource Center in the month of December.
- Janeen Radtke
- Deb Cox and Amanda Gil
- Kathy Smithers
- Erin Albrecht
- Cheryl Tellas
- Michigan Education Association
- Denise Toner
- Francene Barbro-Meiners
- Debbie Jenkins
- Sheriff’s Department
- Sacred Heart Church
- The Elks
- Mackinaw City Women’s Club
- Marshall’s Fudge and Candy
- Alice’s Kandy and Korn
- Candy Corner
- Barish’s
- Leisa Mansfield
- Donna Gunderson
- Sharon Dorrity
- Penny’s Kitchen
- Pizza Hut
- Jimmy Johns
- Little Ceasars
- Colleen Myotte
- Village Fabrics and Crafts
- Brian Peppler
- Frank and Ellen Quinlivan
- Suzanne Prell
- Harold Essmaker
- Salvation Army
- Presbyterian Church
- Jennifer Constantino
- Janet Hess
- Stalwart Community Church
- Richard Tautwein
- Robyn Lalone
- Virginia Kinney
- Heather Hagberg
- Allison Brawley
- Autore Oil and Propane
- Diane Rogers
- Bath and Body Works
- Everett Eagle
- & Many anonymous donors.
We would also like to thank our volunteers for giving their time in the month of December.
- Don Corbiere
- Robyn LaLone
- Molly Hartman
- Brittany Heflin
- Ellen Quinlivan
- Jennifer Dibble
- Errin Fornicola
- Caitlin Spink
- And Megan Hall
- As well as all of the volunteers that helped with the Christmas Party and setting up for Christmas in the shelter.
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The Diane Peppler Resource Center is looking for volunteers to help with the following:
- Shoveling our walkway's in the winter
- Complete Clean-out of the shelter basement
- Overnight crisis line volunteers
- Organizing/cleaning of the shelter garage and storage areas
- Weekly sanitation/cleaning of our shelter
- Child Care for our residents in shelter who may need to attend work or appointments
Please Contact Kara Heggaton at heggatonk@dprcenter.org or call 906-635-0566 if you can help with any of these.
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