October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and the Verona Junior Women's Club will be take part in helping victims by collecting toiletries to be donated to The Babyland Domestic Violence Shelter in Newark.

“A lot of women that get there have had to leave their homes quickly and sometimes don't have some of the basic things they need,” said Verona Junior Women's Club President Kristen Donohue.

All month, the club will be collecting new and unopened soap, deodorant, shampoo, laundry detergent, lotion, sanitary napkins, tampons, cleaning supplies, diapers and baby wipes.

“Since many of these women and children arrive at Babyland with only the clothes on their backs, the organization is charged with providing resources for them in the form of shelter, food, and basic toiletries,” a club statement said.

“The Juniors’ goal is to provide Babyland with an ample supply of toiletries to help these families cope during such a stressful and transitional time," they said.

The Babyland Domestic Violence Shelter was established in 1979 as Essex County’s first family violence program. Babyland now fields approximately 5,000 hotline calls every year from women in crisis.

“We looked at many different shelters in the area,” said Donohue. “Babyland is huge and they do a lot for the children in those situations and have programs to help those women get back on their feet.”

For more information on how to donate email juniorsforservice@gmail.com or call Kristen Donohue at (201) 450-6219.

For more information on domestic violence support call Babyland’s hotline at (973) 484-4446.