Take action against Domestic Violence with HopeLine #VZWSM

October is Domestic Violence Awareness month and whether or not we realize it, Domestic Violence touches us all. One in Nine Men, One in Four women, One in Three teens and Over 3 million children are affected by domestic violence. I don’t like to speak of it but when I was 10, my mom and I lived in a women’s shelter. It was a scary time where we weren’t sure what was going to happen to us. Thankfully, my Dad got the help he needed after he and my mom divorced and my relationship with him was really wonderful again. Not everyone is as lucky. I know how important it is for people to get out of the situations where they are being abused. Be it physical, emotional or verbal abuse; domestic violence is a crushing and stifling experience to all who live with it each day.

So many victims live their lives in fear every single day — they are too scared to make a change or stand up for themselves or for their children. It is heartbreaking. They have lost hope.

Hope. The one thing that can make a person regain their will to survive and to fight back. A reason to keep going no matter how convinced you are that the odds are stacked against you. I believe hope is the key that so many are missing. 

Help bring hope to those who need it — join the mission to end Domestic Violence today. The Verizon Wireless HopeLine app puts the nation’s most reliable network to work in the community by turning no-longer used cell phones into support for domestic violence victims and survivors. Proceeds from these recycled cell phones will also help provide cash grants for dating and domestic violence organizations, like the National Dating Abuse Helpline.

Get the App

When you download the HopeLine App, you will have a host of resources at your fingertips to help support domestic violence victims. 

• Learn how to donate your old phones by mail, plus easily locate a HopeLine donation center in your area. Even our small town has many drop-off points in the surrounding area. 
• Smile as you read the HopeLine success stories where domestic violence victims share their inspirational stories of how they survived and overcame their abuse. 
• Learn how to host your own phone drive with step-by-step instructions and material lists. 
• And, for those who need it, there is even an emergency call button that will connect you to the National Domestic Violence Hotline. 

Don’t stay silent, tell someone you are suffering, stand up for yourself and take back your life!

Spread Hope

To help bring awareness to Domestic Violence, Verizon Wireless is hosting a photo contest on Facebook throughout the month of October. 

To enter, submit a photo that symbolizes Hope via the contest page. The photo must be taken using a Verizon Wireless Smartphone or Tablet and must not feature any people, other than yourself. Both Black & White and Color photos will be accepted. Click here to submit your photo.

For each photo submitted to this contest, $1 will be donated to the National Dating Abuse Helpline — up to $10,000.

Your photo could be chosen as the featured cover photo for Verizon Wireless’ Facebook page! Or, you could be lucky enough to win an Android Tablet or the grand prize of an all-expense paid trip for two to Yellowstone National Park! Good Luck, I’m submitting the photo at the top of this post, I took it with my Samsung Galaxy S III!