OH - Victims to leaflet at Mansfield area churches
They reach out to others who have been abused
Support group begs “Break your silence & get help”
“That’s best way to heal & protect others,” SNAP says
WHAT
Hoping to find and help anyone who may have been molested by authority figures, child sex abuse victims will hand out fliers about their confidential support group to church-goers in the Mansfield area.
WHERE/WHEN
This Sunday, Dec. 22 from 9:30 a.m. until roughly noon, outside these four Mansfield churches:
9:30 a.m.--First Presbyterian Church (419-756-7066)
10:00 a.m.--Community Bible Church, 1043 Springmill Rd. (419-747-7986)
--Marion Avenue Grace Brethren Church, 531 Marion Ave. (419-522-3941)
--Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church, 265 West Third St. (419-526-0129)
WHO
Two women who say they were sexually assaulted as children by clerics. They belong to an independent international self-help group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priest (NOTE – the organization helps ANYONE who was violated in ANY institutional setting, not just churches.)
WHY
At one of the churches – First Presbyterian – numerous kids were molested roughly two decades ago.
At another one of them – Greek Orthodox Church – SNAP suspects that a cleric who was arrested in several months ago in Columbus may have worked there.
In general, the leafleting effort is to encourage those who may have seen, suspected or suffered child sex crimes – especially but not strictly by church personnel – to step forward, get help, expose wrongdoers, call police, deter cover-ups, protect kids and start healing.
SNAP believes that police and prosecutors are increasingly able to pursue even older child sex crimes and cover ups. But it’s crucial that those with knowledge or suspicions of such crimes speak up.
SNAP is an independent, confidential support group, a safe place for those who are suffering to share their burdens and get help.
The group was founded 25 years ago and is based in Chicago. SNAP’s website is SNAPnetwork.org
CONTACT
Carol Zamonski, [email protected], 614-447-2084 (home); 614-653-1502 (cell); [email protected], David Clohessy,[email protected], 314-566-9790 (cell)
Winter Appeal 2023
To our friends,
2023 has been a long year with many ups and downs for us all. As we close out the year, we at SNAP hope that you are feeling like you are on your way to being healthy, fulfilled, and happy. This past year has brought both successes and challenges. Thanks to the support you have shown in the past, we’ve been able to celebrate the good days and weather the stormy ones. Now, we are once again asking for your support as we work to support survivors new and old as we ‘Move SNAP Forward.’
At SNAP we are proud to have hosted a very well-attended conference in August 2023. This event allowed us to gather friends, survivors, advocates, and allies for a weekend of camaraderie and connection. We were so happy to be able to welcome many first-time attendees to gather in person and are already looking forward to the next conference.
To strengthen our movement for justice, healing, and prevention, SNAP will be expanding our peer support and providing more volunteer opportunities in the coming year. Through this great work, we are ensuring survivor voices are represented as we work for significant change that will benefit children and survivors.
Right now, survivors worldwide are getting the help they need from SNAP, and more and more reach out to us daily, but we need your help to keep those programs going and get our volunteers the training they need to thrive.
Your tax-deductible gift to SNAP can help offset the cost of our important mission. If you are not in a position to contribute, you can still support us by sharing this letter with those who can. As we continue to fight for survivors across the globe, your donation or sharing the great work SNAP does will help us continue our work to protect the vulnerable, heal the wounded, and prevent abuse.
Your donation ensures SNAP will be there for those who need us more than ever!
Warmly,
Michael W. McDonnell, C.P.S.
Interim Executive Director