Womanspace is the leading non-profit agency serving victims of domestic violence and sexual assault in Mercer County. Womanspace also operates the NJ toll-free Statewide Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-572-SAFE (7233) and the local Sexual Assault/24-hour Crisis Hotline: 609-394-9000.

Services include counseling (individual and group), emergency shelter and long and short-term transitional housing.

Volunteers may serve as Domestic Violence Victim Response Team members and as sexual assault support advocates. Womanspace recruits volunteers year-round for an 80-hour biannual training, which takes place in the spring and fall of each year.

General qualifications of perspective volunteers include:

-- Sensitivity to victim’s feelings and concerns

-- Ability to communicate well with others and be a good listener

-- Maintain confidentiality

-- Must be 18 years of age and a resident or employed in the Mercer County area

-- Must have a valid New Jersey driver’s license and available transportation

-- Must not have a criminal history or prior history as a defendant in a domestic violence related matter.

-- Must submit to a background investigation that includes fingerprinting

-- Must be available to partipcate in initial 80+hour and ongoing training

Bilingual persons who speak Spanish and Polish and know American Sign Language are encouraged to apply.

Applications are available by visiting www.womanspace.org. Deadline for submitting applications is Aug. 1 for the fall training session which will begin Sept. 6 at the Lawrence Police Department.

For more information, contact Susan Adams, coordinator of Womanspace Volunteers and Community Outreach, at 609-394-0136 or e-mail: [email protected]

Parishes, ministry programs and charitable and outreach agencies in need of volunteers are invited to send details to [email protected]. Type FAITH IN ACTION into the subject line.