The Women’s Fund of Greater Fort Wayne has launched a sexual violence awareness campaign using coffee drink sleeves.
The “No Matter What” campaign, timed for Sexual Assault Awareness Month, aims to increase visibility of resources for survivors and community members that survivors may look to for support. The nonprofit distributed 20,000 drink sleeves to more than a dozen local coffee shops and other participating companies. The sleeves feature a QR code that people can scan to learn more.
According to research from the Women’s Fund, 40% of women ages 18-64 in Allen County have experienced sexual assault or rape, and 45% have experienced domestic or intimate partner violence.
Cassie Beer, director of Women’s Fund of Greater Fort Wayne, describes the participating locations as “some of the few places young people still have to gather and socialize.”
Participating shops include The Bigby, The Hive, Conjure, Firefly Coffee House, Holy Grounds, Tall Rabbit, Well Grounded, Perk’s Peak, Kanela, Davey’s, Cafe Flora, Black Forest, and Networks Coffee.
Beer said the organization has three goals for how the drink sleeves should be used.
“Our number one goal is that if you, or someone you know, experiences sexual violence, you will, at the very least, know there’s a resource to help you find support. Second, we hope it sparks conversations that help us learn what we really mean when we say ‘no matter what’ and ‘never her fault.’ And our third goal would be to hear that local agencies that offer support are dealing with less traffic control. When it comes to going out and finding the survivors who need them, I want them to do less.”
A separate campaign will run in October for Domestic Violence Awareness Month, but instead of drink sleeves, coasters will be made available at participating locations.
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Ashley Ford is a Free Press Indiana reporter focused on issues affecting women and girls across Indiana. You can reach her at ashley.ford@freepressindiana.org.
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