On January 22, Consul General Eric Cohan and Vice Consul Kathryn Jones delivered personal protective equipment, hygiene kits, and cleaning supplies to Hilda Celsa Melendez, Administrative Coordinator of the Sin Violencia shelter in Ciudad Juarez. Jones received a 3,063 USD grant from the J. Kirby Simon Foreign Service Trust to purchase the items, which included disposable masks, gloves, sanitizer, toothbrushes, deodorant, shampoo, lotion, toilet paper, liquid hand soap, feminine hygiene products, and other articles the shelter suggested.
Annually, Sin Violencia provides shelter to hundreds of women who are victims of violence in Ciudad Juarez. Given the large amount of assistance the shelter provides the women, acquiring sufficient supplies is always a challenge.
Applauding the initiative, Consul General Cohan said, “It’s inspiring to see the great work Sin Violencia is doing in Ciudad Juárez. We in the Consulate are grateful to be able to contribute to their efforts.” Vice Consul Jones said she selected Sin Violencia because “they are committed to not just removing women from abusive situations, but also stopping the cycle of abuse through financial training, education opportunities, and much more. Sin Violencia accepts all women, regardless of their backgrounds.”
The J. Kirby Simon Foreign Service Trust is a charitable fund established in the memory of Kirby Simon, a Foreign Service officer who died in 1995 while serving overseas. The Trust is committed to expanding the opportunities for community service, professional fulfillment and personal well-being of Foreign Service officers and Specialists and their families. The Trust has been funded with contributions from Kirby Simon’s colleagues, friends and relatives and other persons interested in the purposes of the Trust.