Centre Safe urges Harris Township to consider annual funding as it marks 50 years

Jennifer Pensec, executive director of Centre Safe, told the Harris Township Board the nonprofit is celebrating its 50th anniversary and is expanding local outreach during Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

"All of our services are 100% no cost to those who are using them," Pensec said, and described the organizationʼs annual workload in Centre County: about 900 domestic violence survivors aided, roughly 200 sexual assault survivors, approximately 200 individuals or families needing shelter, and 1,200–1,500 hotline calls.

Pensec outlined recent events and fundraising efforts and said Centre Safe submitted a letter to Harris Township requesting financial consideration to support an anniversary fund and operational needs. Board members and staff said the township typically considers external funding requests during the annual budget cycle in October but that ad hoc contributions are possible during the year. "You probably want to put that on your calendar to get this letter to us in October when we do our budget," one supervisor said.

The presentation emphasized the centerʼs no-cost services to victims of sexual assault, domestic violence and stalking, and the organizationʼs advocacy work in Harrisburg seeking increased state funding for the rape crisis line item. Pensec provided a website for more information and asked supervisors to contact Centre Safe if they had follow-up questions about programs or partnership opportunities.

The township did not make a funding commitment at the meeting; staff advised Centre Safe to submit a formal budget request in time for the fall budgeting process so the board can evaluate it alongside other municipal priorities.