PEORIA, Ill. (25 News) – After nine years of supporting victims of violence, Peoria Community Against Violence (PCAV) closed its doors Thursday.
PCAV’s last effort to save the non-profit organization was a call to action for the community over the summer.
They needed $300,000 to sustain the organization’s efforts in providing services to victims of gun violence and their families.
In the last two years, the agency expanded to offer a different depth of service, including helping find housing for those shut out of their homes during a homicide investigation or when it was unsafe for them to return.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to serve hundreds of families in our community who allowed us in their homes during unimaginable times,” PCAV’s CEO Becky Rossman who worked to expand the agency’s reach said. “We couldn’t have provided comprehensive resources without our community partners. We appreciate those who have supported us and the families we served.”
“It’s extremely helpful to have them with us working with families to get that critical information,” said Jamie Harwood, Peoria County’s Coroner.
At the scene of homicides, Harwood said PCAV was beneficial to him and his team.
“You see me in the worst time of your life, and during the trauma and the tragedy of it, I am not someone you want to come back to for help,” he said, “but PCAV has been that bridge and forced those positive relationships that have been following the death of a loved one, and that bond is going to be gone, and I think it’s unfortunate that [PCAV is] not going to be here.”
Former president of PCAV and now community activist Gloria Clark said the organization filled a space in the community like nothing else.
“Knowing it’s not going to be just [their] family there at 3 a.m., there’s going to be another organization there that cares and is looking out for them and ensuring they get the resources they need. Reaching out to the family the next day to say, ‘Hey, we’re here for you, we have your back, whatever you need us to do, we’re going to try to do it for you,” said Clark.
Harwood and Clark hope other organizations will fill the gap PCAV leaves.
While the grant services PCAV provides ended, Rossman said they will spend the next two weeks finishing an audit and sending tax documents to donors.
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