On Sunday, 29 LSU students took part in a first of its kind Volunteer LSU project to show support for domestic violence survivors.
Student volunteers moved furniture, rearranged and organized donated clothing and cleaned up the children’s playground for the Iris Domestic Violence Center. For some, the project hit closer to home than any volunteer work they had done before.
Business marketing junior Dayjanell Hudson serves as the special events coordinator for Volunteer LSU. Hudson proposed the project because of her personal connection to the issue and to shine a light on Iris as the only domestic violence center in Baton Rouge.
“My aunt is a victim of domestic violence, so this became a personal project and something I wanted to do,” Hudson said. “Knowing the domestic violence rates in Baton Rouge are so high, I felt that the other students and I needed to know there’s a place we can go to help.”
According to Iris, one in four women are victims of domestic violence in the Capital Area. Baton Rouge ranks second in domestic abuse related homicides. For more than 30 years, the center has operated as the largest nonprofit domestic violence organization in Baton Rouge.
The center offers multiple forms of support, including legal services, counseling and workforce education and training. Services are also offered through outreach offices in surrounding areas such as Gonzales and Port Allen.
Originally known as the Capital Area Family Violence Intervention Center and The Battered Women’s Program, Iris rebranded to also open its doors to men who are victims of domestic violence.
After spending part of their day at the facility, some volunteers said they have a new sense of awareness for the severity of domestic violence in Baton Rouge.
“I had never heard of this place until now,” biology senior Jade Moreau said. “I just recently found out about Baton Rouge’s high domestic violence rates, so I think this is a great cause.”
Elementary education senior and Volunteer LSU student director Chauncey Stephens said this service project hit close to home for her, making it all the more important to serve. In her four years with Volunteer LSU, she said nothing compares to the emotional attachment she has with this project.
Hudson and Moreau both said they intend to return to Iris to volunteer more throughout the year, as the need for help doesn’t disappear after a certain date.
After the day was done, the student volunteers met with a survivor of domestic abuse and former Iris tennant who now works for the nonprofit. Many of the students said this service project and the following talk had a positive effect on them and encouraged them to do more work surrounding the issue.
“I know not everyone has experienced what I’ve experienced when it comes to domestic violence, … but I know that a lot of the volunteers are here because they care about the community and want to give back to it,” Hudson said.
Iris is preparing for the holiday season by collecting gifts for individuals and families who can’t afford to purchase gifts of their own. Items such as clothing, dishes, board games and gift cards are accepted.
The center also is looking for items like USB flash drives, pocket calendars and padfolios to create its back to work packages, which are geared toward helping individuals begin job hunting. Other donations can be made to create the child/teen care packages and bike packs the center also offers.
A few of the students said they plan to return to help during the holidays and onward.

Gallery • 8 Photos

Emily Brauner

Students from Volunteer LSU helped out by raking leaves, sorting clothing, and wiping down tables on Nov. 15, 2015 around the Iris Domestic Violence Center in Baton Rouge.