Southern Pioneer Electric s H.U.G.S Team Donates to Southwest Sexual Assault Services

The Southwest Sexual Assault Services team has received a donation from Southern Pioneer Electric Company’s H.U.G.S team in the amount of $10,000 dollars, which will be used to fund equipment and training used to provide a timely, sensitive response to victims of sexual assault in Southwest Kansas.

Southwest Medical Center’s Southwest Sexual Assault Services team has partnered with the Liberal Area Rape Crisis and Domestic Violence Center, Liberal Police Department, Seward County Sherriff’s Department and our local judicial system to create a comprehensive program to care for victims of sexual assault. This team – known as a Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) – works together to serve victims of sexual assault in our region. The program is expected to begin providing services in March.

Southern Pioneer Electric Company’s H.U.G.S (Help Us Give to Society) team assists community groups or projects using funds collected from recycled materials. Pieces of steel, aluminum, or copper that have been taken out of service due to a repair or rebuild are recycled and turned into dollars to support local programs.

Donations to Southwest Sexual Assault Services are used to fund program equipment needs and cover the cost of specialized SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) training for nurses at Southwest Medical Center. These SANE-trained nurses will be able to assist in treating medical needs for victims of sexual assault, while also collecting medical evidence and providing expert testimony should a victim’s case go to trial.