Victim Assistance and Sexual Assault Program (VASAP)

How You Can Help

There are many ways that you can help.  You can volunteer with us or you can donate printer cartridges, cell phones or monetarily.  

BE A VOLUNTEER

As a VASAP volunteer you can:

• Conduct outreach to county hospitals and police stations for sexual assault/rape victims
• Accompany and support victims during the court process
• Use interpretive skills
• Assist with community awareness and public relation projects
• Help with administrative needs
• Apply to become a member of the Victim Services Advisory Board

Outreach Volunteers provide 24-hour crisis counseling and companion services to victims of rape and sexual assault at Montgomery County hospitals and police stations.  Volunteers must be at least 21 years old, be a Montgomery County resident and be able to make a one year commitment.  They must also have access to private transportation and have a valid driver's license. 

Court Companion Volunteers staff Montgomery County District courthouse offices, in Rockville and Silver Spring.  Volunteers assist crime victims seeking peace and protective orders by helping them complete necessary paperwork and, if requested, accompany them in the court proceeding.  Volunteers are asked to commit to providing one morning per week for a year; afternoon hours are also available.    

VASAP provides training and bi-lingual volunteers are strongly encouraged to apply.  

If you are interested in volunteering with VASAP, please fill out our  application form and submit it to us. We will then contact you for a follow-up interview.

DONATE

There are two separate funds that accept donations that will help victims of crime.  The first fund is called the Crime Victims' Compensation Fund Account.  This fund is matched 2 to 1 by the county.  For example, if you donate $25, the county will match this amount by $50 and the fund will receive a total donation of $75.  The fund assists income eligible victims of crime with crime related losses such as medical and funeral expenses, wage losses and property replacement.     

The second fund is called the Victim Assistance and Sexual Assault Program Trustee Account.  This fund can be used to buy clothes for needy victims of crime, replace clothes that are retained as part of evidence collection for sexual assault victims, provide transportation to victims in need as well as help support the VASAP volunteer component and other program needs.  

To donate to either fund, please specify which fund you would like to donate to and send a check or money order to:

The Victim Assistance and Sexual Assault Program 
1301 Piccard Drive, Suite 4100
Rockville, Maryland 20850

Recycle your cell phones!

VASAP is also collecting used cell phones.  This is also environmentally friendly. Your generous efforts will result in a donation to VASAP of up to $110 per cell phone.  The cell phones you donate will be either re-marketed, recycled, or re-programmed to be used as 911 cell phones for emergency use to law enforcement and other emergency agencies to benefit victims and the disadvantaged.  Please contact VASAP via email or call us at 240-777-1355 for more information.

You can also donate unused toiletries to VASAP in order for us to add that extra touch in helping crime victims. 

Your donations may be tax deductible.  Please consult your tax adviser.