Participate in "Shop and Share" Day on Feb. 1

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Jan. 23, 2014) ― Dr. Mary Lynne Capilouto is encouraging the University of Kentucky family to join Kentucky First Lady Jane Beshear to volunteer and participate in the 6th Annual "Shop and Share" day, a one-day goods drive to benefit Kentucky Domestic Violence Association (KDVA) shelters across the state. The drive will be held at Kentucky Kroger, Food City and Super Dollar Discount Food stores of the Saturday of Super Bowl weekend, Feb. 1, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Capilouto is asking University of Kentucky students, staff, faculty and alumni to offer their support and to volunteer at the donation stands in Kroger Stores across the state that day.

“Volunteerism, helping others and giving back are at the heart of everything we do here at UK," Capilouto said.

On Shop and Share Day, volunteers at each Kroger, Food City and Supper Dollar Discount Food store will provide a list of items needed at KDVA shelters - such as canned foods, school supplies, toilet paper and soap. Monetary donations will also be accepted.

“Domestic violence crosses all spectrums – no matter your race, religion, economic or social standing. Anyone can be affected,” said Kentucky First Lady Jane Beshear. “In America, one-third of women report abuse in their lifetime, and many of those women turn to shelters to escape the violence and rebuild their lives. Shop and Share is a simple way for Kentuckians to support domestic violence shelters and help victims and their families. On Feb. 1, while gathering Super Bowl game-day supplies or shopping for weekly groceries, Kentuckians can purchase needed goods and then donate them directly to KDVA shelters.”

According to a Center for Disease Control survey, Kentucky ranks 11th in the nation in terms of people experiencing intimate partner violence. To sign up as a Shop and Share volunteer at a local store near you, visit https://secure.kentucky.gov/FormServices/FirstLady/ShopandShare.

One hundred percent of the contributions collected through Shop and Share will be donated to the 15 KDVA shelters across the state. To date, Shop and Share has raised more than $2 million in combined goods and monetary donations for KDVA.

Organizational partners for 2014 Shop and Share include the First Lady’s Office, KDVA, Kroger, Food City, Super Dollar stores, the Kentucky Commission on Women, the General Federation of Women’s Clubs, the Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana, the Girls Scouts of Wilderness Road Council and the Kentucky Drug Court.

For more information on Shop and Share, visit http://firstlady.ky.gov/initiatives/shopandshare/Pages/. To tweet about Shop and Share, use the hashtag #ShopShare2014. 

About KDVA

The mission of KDVA is to end intimate partner violence, promote healthy relationships and engage communities through social change, economic empowerment, educational opportunities and other prevention strategies.

Last year alone, KDVA handled more than 23,000 crisis calls and served more than 43,000 men, women and children through its member programs. 

For more information, visit http://www.kdva.org/.