The Copper Country Supports Victims of Sexual Assault and Copper Shores Victim Support

Furry friends and raising funds for a great cause. Last night the community showed off their puppy pals with Copper Shores Victim Support and other domestic violence and sexual assault advocacy groups during last night’s Paws for a Cause Puppy Parade. The parade, hosted at the Quincy Green, was joined by the Hancock Police Department, local law enforcement, and the Houghton County Prosecutor’s Office. County Prosecutor Dan Helmer expressed his office’s support for victims of sexual assault and was happy to see many of the community out to support Copper Shores Victim Support.

I think it’s a great program that Copper Shores puts on. They’re raising money for a sexual assault exam camera that will help victims of crime here in Houghton County. And who doesn’t love puppies? So it’s a great opportunity. It’s a beautiful day, especially for the end of April. So looking forward to raising some money and getting to enjoy the puppies. – Dan Helmer, Prosecutor, Houghton County

Victim Advocate and MDT Intake Coordinator Rachel Lamppa says that the support from the community was incredible to see.

It started this morning with high schoolers doing sidewalk chalk. It was really exciting to see our community, even the kids, coming together for an event like this. And we’ve also added some things to the puppy parade this year. So it’s awesome and great weather. – Rachel Lamppa, Victim Advocate and Intake Coordinator, Copper Shores Victim Support

Victim Support Program Director Virginia Lambert says that the support and coordination between local groups make a big difference in the region’s response to sexual assault and domestic violence crimes.

It’s been really exciting to see so many of our partner agencies come out and support our victims. A lot of our agencies work together to provide round care for all of them. So we might be specifically for sexual assault, but we have our partners from the domestic violence shelters in Calumet, the Barbara Kettle Gundlach Shelter, and our Baraga Women Shelter. And then we also have been blessed with having the Copper Country Veterinary Clinic and the Humane Society come out since you know it’s a parade with puppies come out and meet some new dogs and see if you want to adopt one and then we have the KBIC OVW so there’s all these resources in our for our folks in our communities going all the way from Berga to Cayamat, Houghton, all four counties. – Virginia Lambert, Program Director, Copper Shores Victim Support

Copper Shores Victim Support was joined by the Barbara Kettle Gundlach Shelter Home, the Office of Violence against Women with the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, and others from the four-county area. The Puppy Parade yesterday raised funds to support purchasing a colposcope used by sexual assault nurses. Those interested in learning more about Copper Shores Victim Support or want to support the fundraising efforts can find more information here.