Centre Safe recently launched its annual holiday campaign with the goal of raising $50,000 to directly support victims/survivors of relationship violence, sexual violence and stalking across Centre County throughout the year and provide critical services that help its clients feel safe in their healing journeys.
Founded in 1975 as the Centre County Women’s Resource Center, what is now Centre Safe has grown to include three locations with dedicated staff offering confidential, professional and no-cost services like emergency shelter, counseling, advocacy, legal support, outreach, education and safe custody exchanges and supervised visitation through its Child Access Center.
“As we continue to honor our 50th anniversary, we ask our amazing community supporters to help us thrive in 2025,” Jennifer Pencek, Centre Safe executive director, said. “On average we support 900 victims of domestic and dating violence each year and 200 survivors of sexual assault, along with approximately 200 adults and children needing shelter/housing. Those working at Centre Safe feel called to this line of work, and we are incredibly thankful for supporters who help give us the tools to help so many in our communities across Centre County.”
Some of the services and tools able to be funded by community donations include:
- $10,000: 10 families with assistance to relocate to safe housing
- $5,000: 100 hours of legal assistance
- $2,500: 32 monthly bus passes to provide transportation to job interviews, medical appointments and employment
- $1,000: 20 safe custody exchanges
- $500: Textbooks for clients completing degrees/training
- $250: Food, toiletries, and other necessities for a family escaping violence
- $100: Advocacy and support to obtain a Protection from Abuse Order
- $25: Books for children living in the Sylvia Stein Shelter
“Centre Safe’s reassurance and legal advice helped me understand what we were going through was not okay,” said one Centre Safe client. “This clarity offered such hope for me and my family. I will be forever thankful for the new chapter in my life.”
To donate to Centre Safe’s holiday campaign visit centresafe.org and click on get involved, then make a donation. To donate by mail, send a check made payable to Centre Safe to 140 W. Nittany Ave., State College, PA 16801 and write holiday campaign on the memo line.
Centre Safe’s 24/7 hotline is toll-free at 877-234-5050.
