The Rape Crisis Center is a 501(c)(3) organization that exists to support all survivors of sexual assault and ensure victims have a responsive medical community, sensitive law enforcement officials, and an active prosecution system. For 40 years, the Rape Crisis Center has been a resource for our community. We are supporting their work at both of our August events.

Why is this work so important? Some statistics:

• 6.3 million Texans have experienced some form of sexual assault in their lifetime
• 2 in 5 women in Texas have been sexually assaulted
• 1 in 5 men in Texas has been sexually assaulted
• 91% of sexual assault victims did not report to law enforcement
• 90% of all child victims are assaulted by someone they know
• Studies confirm the undetected rapist is a serial hunter and serial offender
• Over 94% of rapists roam free with only 3% ever spending a day in jail

(Statistics from Texas Association Against Sexual Assault)

Per TxDPS 2014 Crime Data, someone was raped every 46 minutes in Texas that year. As that doesn’t account for unreported rape, the number of sexual assaults that likely occur in Texas each year is staggering.

The Rape Crisis Center is the only sexual assault program in Bexar County. It offers client-centered services that seek to empower and promote the safety of survivors, without judgment.

They offer several kinds of services to clients:

Counseling: Free and confidential counseling is offered to survivors, family members, and their loved ones affected by sexual violence. Qualified, bilingual counselors provide therapy for individuals, couples, families, and children.

Crisis Intervention: 24-hour crisis intervention services via telephone and online hotlines give immediate, anonymous support to anyone needing a safe place to talk or to get advice and referrals.

Education: Promoting healthy relationships is the focus of this public health program. Presented all around San Antonio, from middle schools to professional organizations, the program seeks to open up conversations about relevant topics such as anti-bullying, bystander responsibility and violence in the media.

Client Advocacy: This program is focused on helping survivors and their families with everyday needs, from shelter and housing to employment and legal assistance.

How can we help?

The Rape Crisis Center is in need of many items to do their important work. These items help in their daily work and also with their youth and therapy groups. We will be collecting the following at both August Nerd Nights.

• Black binder clips (medium & large)
• Black lanyards
• Bottled water
• Clip boards
• Colored copy paper
• Construction paper
• Disinfecting wipes (e.g. Clorox, Lysol wipes)
• DYMO Letratag refills
• Flip chart markers
• Hand sanitizer
• Highlighters (all colors)
• Kleenex
• Large plastic storage bins
• Mechanical pencils
• Pens
• Pocket folders
• Post-Its
• Spiral notebooks
• USB flash drives
• Washable markers
• White cardstock
• Canvases (any size)
• Clay Markers (e.g. Sharpies)
• Water color paint
• Gift cards – H-E-B, Walmart, Target, CVS Pharmacy, Walgreens, Visa
• Candy (snack-size to give out at outreach events)