Victim Services Center marks 40 years
Organization marks milestone with anniversary event
Approximately 100 people joined the staff and volunteers of Victim Services Center for a Mardi Gras-themed celebration of the VSC’s 40th anniversary at Normandy Farm in Blue Bell from 1 to 3 p.m. May 31.
By hosting the 40th Anniversary Celebration, VSC celebrated the work of its staff and volunteers who support victims of crime and their families in Montgomery County.
“We are very fortunate to have a staff that works very hard and diligently,” said VSC Executive Director Mary Onama. “We [were] celebrating the strength of an agency’s ability to maintain and sustain its critical services to survivors.”
VSC was formed in 1974 by a group of women led by Matty Muir. Known at the time as Women Against Rape, the organization provided victims with various services for their mental and physical wellbeing.
“[Women Against Rape] provid[ed] victims of rape with counseling services, hospital accompaniments, accompaniments to police departments and through the judicial system and a 24/7 crisis hotline,” said Onama. “They brought together the district attorney’s office and police and together Matty and her associates were able to convince these two important groups that sexual assault affects not just the victim, but also the victim’s family, friends and the entire community including the police.”
Forty years later, the Norristown-based organization has expanded its services to men, women and children who are survivors of rape, child abuse, physical assault, hate crimes, stalking, harassment, robbery and more.
“[VSC] evolved because there was recognition that men, too, become victims of sexual assault,” said Onama. “Now the agency does more than [offer] support for victims of rape and sexual assault; we also help any victim of any crime.”
In addition to the ser- vices originally offered upon the formation of Women Against Rape, the VSC now offers free individual and group therapy sessions for survivors and their family members and friends.
The organization also promotes awareness of crime through hosting educational programs i n classroom settings ranging from pre-k to the collegiate level.
According to 40th Anniversary Celebration coordinator Lynn Williams, it was important to celebrate the survivors who have used the VSC’s services as well as the volunteers and staff members who have made it possible for these services to be available.
“We give voices back (to survivors), and it is to be celebrated,” said Williams.
The event featured musical entertainment from the band Zydeco-A-Go-Go and a New Orleans-inspired buffet. There was also a silent auction, which was made up of various donations from community organizations and businesses.
The event also featured guest speaker Jody Plauche’, who had worked at VSC for seven years as a sexual assault counselor, prevention educator and supervisor of community education programs.
Along with VSC volun- teers, staf, and supporters, the event was also attended by Muir, who said she was appreciative of the organization’s advancement from its original founding four decades ago.
“It is validating to see that what we started has grown,” said Muir.
For more information regarding the VSC, please visit victimservicescenter.org.