Metro East Every Survivor Counts

Dear Community Members,

My name is Ella Barrett, and I have the honor of serving as the Executive Director of Metro East Every Survivor Counts. Every day, our team stands beside survivors of sexual assault on their path toward healing, empowerment, and hope. Today, I am reaching out to you with an open heart to ask for your support in helping us continue this life-changing work.

Sexual violence affects far more than just the individual — it touches families, friends, and entire communities. The impact can be overwhelming, but healing is possible when compassion and community come together. At Metro East Every Survivor Counts, we believe that every survivor deserves to be heard, believed, and supported without judgment.

Through confidential advocacy, free counseling, crisis intervention, and prevention education, our certified staff walk hand in hand with survivors and their loved ones, offering guidance, understanding, and hope at every step. We are proud to provide counseling services not only to survivors but also to impacted others — family members, significant others, and friends — to help them process their own emotions and learn how to best support their loved one’s healing journey.

Your generosity makes all of this possible. Every dollar donated goes directly toward ensuring survivors and their support networks have access to the resources and care they need — all free of charge. Whether it’s transportation, emergency assistance, or emotional support, your contribution helps us meet people where they are and remind them they are never alone.

Here’s some examples of how your donation can make a real and immediate difference:

$5–$10 can provide a gas card for a survivor or family member to travel to counseling sessions, court, or medical appointments.

$15–$25 can supply toiletries such as shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and toothpaste — small comforts that help survivors reclaim a sense of self-worth and comfort.

$30–$50 can purchase a complete outfit, including undergarments and weather-appropriate clothing, for a survivor leaving the hospital after an evidence collection exam when their personal clothing is submitted as evidence.

$40–$45 can fund safe transportation (Uber, taxi, or bus pass) for survivors or their family members to attend court proceedings, medical visits, or therapy sessions.

$75–$90 can provide emergency lodging for a survivor or their loved one who needs a safe place to stay following a traumatic event.

Your act of giving — no matter the amount — sends a powerful message to survivors and the community at large:

You are not alone. You are valued. You are believed. You are supported.

Together, we can create a community where every survivor counts, and every voice is heard. Your contribution helps restore safety, hope, and a renewed sense of self to survivors and their families, ensuring they have the care and compassion they deserve as they begin to heal.

Please consider making a donation today to support this vital mission. Your kindness and generosity truly transform lives.

With gratitude and hope from the Metro East ESC family to you and yours.