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Agencies across Dutchess County are coming together to support the Family Services Center for Victim Safety and Support after the unexpected loss of essential items. The center, located in Poughkeepsie, provides crucial support to survivors of domestic violence and crime, and its sudden loss has prompted a swift response from local organizations.
The Dutchess County Sheriff's Office—along with police departments from the City and Town of Poughkeepsie, Beacon, Hyde Park, and Fishkill—is collecting new and unused personal hygiene items and basic clothing for women and children. Additionally, the Hudson Valley Renegades are hosting a donation drive during their Opening Day festivities at Heritage Financial Park to gather more supplies.
The relief effort is a direct response to a shortage of specialized supplies used by the center’s victim advocacy programs. While the center continues its daily operations, the community rally aims to ensure that survivors have immediate access to emergency hygiene products and clothing during times of crisis.
The United Way of the Dutchess-Orange Region also accepts financial contributions to purchase hygiene items in bulk. Community members can create fundraising pages to amplify their impact and help more families in need.
For those interested in contributing, organizers have highlighted the most needed items, including personal hygiene products like menstrual supplies and diapers, as well as new clothing for women and children.
An earlier version of this article contained incorrect information surrounding the nature of the Family Service Center for Victim Safety and Support's operations and suggested that it was operated by Dutchess Outreach. The article has been updated. We apologize for the inaccuracy.