Helena-vacation is coming soon, many people like to use this time to give back to those in need. The Friendship Center is an organization that needs to provide basic items for people affected by domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

"We don't accept large donations of supplies right now, so there is a list of the most needed items on the homepage of our website. This is the best way for people to find out which supplies we are looking for," said Gina Boesdorfer, Executive Director of the Friendship Center.

The "wish list" indicated that the center needed hand sanitizer, reusable shopping bags, diapers, children's shampoo and toiletries.

Boesdorfer said that due to the pandemic, their demand for services has increased significantly, and customers say they face more severe and frequent abuse.

"The increased stress and stress, and then again being unable to seek support or rest, or what people usually do for safety, they create safety for themselves and their inherent insecurity has been changed by everything that is happening in the pandemic In the world," Boesdorfer said.

For this reason, since 2021, the Friendship Center has provided shelters for 177 people and 27 children for nearly 5,500 nights, and provided 6,111 services for 575 people.

Boesdorfer said: "Some of these 6000 people are from anonymous contacts, so people who call our crisis hotline may not be comfortable telling us who they are, but 570 are known people."

Boesdorfer said that despite the lack of services in the entire community, the center has been doing its best to provide resources.

"Our customers still face the same challenges they have always faced, but now they face much less community resources than they might have," Boesdorfer said.

Basic items needed by the Friendship Center:

Boesdorfer said that people can drop in donations at the center, and if they have any questions about other items on the wishlist, they can call 406-422-6800.