Crisis Intervention Service seeks cellphones for survivors

By Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com

Have a no longer used but still working cellphone sitting in a drawer somewhere? Ready to get a new cellphone and looking for a good use for your current phone?

Crisis Intervention Service is looking for working cellphones that can be given to people who need them for emergency contacts, said Amber Hicks, a sexual assault advocate with the 15-county northcentral Iowa service.

“Sometimes their phones are broken in a domestic situation, or for whatever reason they can’t afford one or they just don’t have one,” Hicks said. “It’s important for them to be able to contact emergency services or even family members to help insure their safety.”

She said Crisis Intervention Services usually has a supply of used cellphones to give out, but they’ve been very low on them lately.

“I figured, April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and I thought it would be a nice project to help us be able to get some so we can get them in the hands of survivors,” she said.

The isolation of the pandemic proved the importance of cellphones as a method to communicate, Hicks said.

“A lot of times during the pandemic the offices where they could apply for certain assistance were closed to the public, so the only way they could apply for those services is online,” she said. Without access to a smartphone or some other internet connection, filling out forms required mailing them out then sending them back.

“Some people don’t even have a permanent address that they can have stuff mailed to,” Hicks said.

People who would like to donate phones can drop them off at the Charles City Police Station, Floyd County Medical Center, Floyd County Public Health Office or any of the Crisis Intervention Service offices, Hicks said.

“The Crisis Intervention Service office in Floyd County isn’t staffed at all times. That’s why we got in touch with the police station and the hospital because those places are open regularly and most people know where they are. It’s more convenient that way,” she said.

“If people want to contact me it might even be something where I just go pick them up,” she said, adding that her contact number to donate a phone or for other help or information is 641-832-8456.

Hicks emphasized that it’s important that the cellphone be unlocked and all personal information be removed from the phone through a factory reset before it is donated.

“We’ve had a couple of phones donated that weren’t reset and we have no way to get into them so we can’t use them,” she said.

It would also be helpful to provide a charger with each phone, she said.

The mission of Crisis Intervention Service is to provide persons affected by domestic violence, sexual assault and homicide with professional, confidential, 24-hour services including safety and support and to prevent violence in our communities through education.

For more information the service, visit the website at cishelps.org.