National Domestic Violence Hotline expands services

Visitors to the National Domestic Violence Hotline website TheHotline.org will now be able to chat online with advocates thanks to a $250,000 donation from Verizon’s HopeLine program.

During a six-week pilot program last fall, 98 percent of the site’s 22,500 visitors accepted the offer chat with an advocate.

Additionally, the company is offering $250,000 in matching funds through a national wireless phone drive through its HopeLine program.

HopeLine collects no-longer-used cellphones and accessories in any condition from any service provider and turns them into support for domestic violence prevention organizations and local shelters in the form of cash grants, and wireless phones with text and voice service.

The National Domestic Violence Hotline, (800) 799-7233, operates around the clock to provide free and confidential compassionate support, crisis intervention information and referral services in more than 170 languages.