Sheriff’s office gives vehicle to domestic violence shelter

By MATT DIXON, DAILY SUN

TAVARES — A van no longer used by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office was donated during a small ceremony Thursday to a group that provides help to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.

The recipient, Haven of Lake & Sumter Counties, on average provides services annually to 12,000 to 13,000 victims and housing to an additional 500 to 600 through its shelter, according to Kelly Smallridge, executive director.

Smallridge says that the van will fill a need and serve the organization well in Lake County.

“We have a huge need. We don’t have a huge transportation system in Lake County, so we have a huge need to get people where they do their daily business,” she said.

“We asked the sheriff if he would be kind enough to give us a van, and he said yes,” she added.

Lake County Sheriff Gary Borders said he was happy to oblige for an organization that serves such an important role in the community.

“We think having an organization in Lake County that serves domestic assault victims and sexual assault victims is important. We heard of their needing a vehicle and we were fortunate enough to be able to donate a van,” Borders said. He also noted that the program has the full support of the sheriff’s office.

“We are fully behind the program; we work hand-in-hand, we respond, obviously, to domestic violence calls and sexual assault calls. It’s just good to have a great resource like the Haven to be able to lean on when that deputy sheriff needs them on the street,” Borders said.

The sheriff said that both domestic and sexual abuse cases are salient issues in Lake County.

“Obviously it is a need anytime you have a victim of domestic violence who has to come out of the home, or a sexual assault victim who has to come out of the home. They have to have a place to go, and that’s where the Haven steps in.”

Smallridge agreed.

“It is a real problem, a significant problem,” Smallridge said.

Matt Dixon is a reporter with the Daily Sun. He can be reached at 753-1119, ext. 9089, or Matthew.Dixon@thevillages

media.com.