Fresh call for food and phones for domestic abuse survivors

A domestic abuse service in Plymouth is encouraging people to donate phones and food supplies to survivors who left everything behind to escape harmful relationships.

PDAS is appealing for food and mobile phone donations

Sanctuary Supported Living’s (SSL) Plymouth Domestic Abuse Service (PDAS) is calling for donations of handsets, old or new, and unused SIM cards to help its clients get connected again when they start receiving support.

Second-hand phones should be reset to factory settings before they are donated to PDAS’ office on Prideaux Court, Palace Street, Plymouth, PL1 2AY.

Food items, such as tinned goods, long-life milk, tea, coffee, sugar, juice, pasta and baby food can also be donated to the same address. Donations should be within their use-by dates, where applicable.

SSL local service manager Katy Fisher said: “When people escape an abusive relationship – be it partner, family or otherwise – they often have to leave their personal possessions behind.

“With no phone, abuse survivors arriving at the refuge have no way of contacting the outside world – and without food supplies, they face a bumpy start to their first few nights. We’d welcome any donations people can spare to help our new arrivals find their feet.”

The office will be open for donations from 8am to 5pm Monday to Friday, with late hours to 8pm on Wednesday.

When people escape an abusive relationship – be it partner, family or otherwise – they often have to leave their personal possessions behind.

Katy Fisher