Carmel teen collects phones for victims of domestic violence

CARMEL, Ind. – A Carmel girl is stepping up to the plate to help victims of domestic violence.

For about seven weeks, Katie Dunn, 17, collected more than 400 phones that will soon be programmed to dial 911 for victims. Dunn says these phones will be distributed at the Julian Center in Indianapolis, which aims to empower survivors of domestic violence and much more.

“We had a goal of 50 phones at first and so now we’ve collected 411,” Dunn said. “So, we were kind of surprised after the first collection that we did at the beginning of this to see how many phones we were getting.”

Jamie Schnurpel, the Julian Center director of programs and survivor services, said, “These are incredible donations and it means a lot to us as providers but also to the survivors that we serve.”

Dunn adds that this community project is one more step to becoming a Gold Award Girl Scout, the highest achievement within the Girl Scouts of the USA.

Victims of domestic violence who need a phone can call Julian Center’s crisis hotline at 317-902-9320.

For domestic violence help, call the Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence at 800-332-7385.