Mercy Center seeks donations, partners with faith communities for domestic violence support and upcoming April event

Pamela Major, a consultant with Mercy Center, told the council the organization has been working for four years to build partnerships with local faith communities to support survivors of domestic and sexual violence. Mercy Center is reissuing a resource package so churches can act as satellite support sites and, in some cases, sanctuaries for survivors.

Why it matters: Mercy Center’s outreach aims to expand immediate support and referral options across the city by equipping local congregations with information and donation collections for basic household necessities that survivors frequently need after leaving unsafe homes.

What Mercy Center announced - Events: Mercy Center will hold an event on April 24 (details to be shared closer to the date) for domestic‑violence and sexual‑assault awareness; the organization will also hold drives in October and April for related awareness activities. - Donations and collection sites: Mercy Center is running a donation drive through March 15. Collection bins and lists are available at the Asbury Park Library and several churches (including Trinity Church, Second Baptist Church, St. Stephen’s and Rebirth Church, and Cathedral International by the Shore). - Faith‑community outreach: Mercy Center is providing churches with updated resource packages to help them serve as local points of contact for survivors and to direct people to available services and shelter options.

Pamela Major said Mercy Center can purchase certain items through grants but sometimes cannot buy other necessities such as sheets; the donation drive aims to fill those gaps. She said Mercy Center will provide printed materials to city staff and asked the council to help publicize the April event.

Ending: Council members offered to distribute flyers and include the event in city communications; Mercy Center said it will send paperwork and more details to the municipal clerk and staff.