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Aiken council hears Cumby Center presentation for Sexual Assault Awareness Month
Summary
April Jordan of the Cumby Center outlined the nonprofit's survivor services, cited regional and national abuse statistics, and asked city staff for permission to hang awareness ribbons and promote local April events; council thanked her for the presentation.
April Jordan, director of outreach for the Cumby Center, told the Aiken City Council on March 23 that the nonprofit provides free, confidential services to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault across six South Carolina counties, including a 24-hour crisis hotline, shelter, counseling, court advocacy and hospital accompaniment.
"Our phones ring nonstop," Jordan said, describing outreach across Aiken, Allendale, Barnwell, Edgefield, McCormick and Saluda counties. She said the center operates prevention and volunteer programs and cited national and state statistics to underline the need for services. "On a typical day, there are more than 20,000 phone calls placed to domestic violence hotlines nationwide," she said, and added, "One in five women in the United States experienced completed or attempted rape during the lifetime." Jordan also said state figures place many victims at roughly the mid‑40 percent range for lifetime domestic or sexual violence.
Jordan described the Cumby Center's local initiatives for awareness months — including a ribbon campaign and a community bake-off scheduled for April at the H. Odell Weeks Activity Center — and said she submits requests to city staff for permission to hang awareness ribbons in town. She told council she had requested approval in advance from staff member Sarah and thanked the council for their support. "We hang these awareness ribbons along the circle in Barnwell, in the Edgefield square, up and down Georgia Avenue in North Augusta and on Lauren Street in Aiken," she said.
Jordan urged volunteers and donations to sustain services and noted that the center's Silver Sneakers and other programs drive thousands of visits to the activity center. Council members responded by thanking Jordan for the presentation; no formal council action on funding or new policy was recorded in the transcript.
The Cumby Center indicated it would continue outreach and community events during April's awareness activities and coordinate logistics with city staff.
