Silent Auction Benefits Rape Crisis Council

The mission of the Rape Crisis Council of Pickens County is to provide “optimum, quality and direct” services to sexual assault victims and their families.

Rape Crisis Council serves victims of all ages and relies on the support of corporate and community donors and the public to provide its services to victims.

Their major fundraiser is coming up soon, and the funds raised will help the Rape Crisis Council continue to offer its many programs, including Kamp Kid, a camp open to all abused children ages 4-12 in area foster homes, it's RAD and RAD Kids self-defense classes for women and children, programs for area students and more.

The 16^th Annual Silent Auction will be held Friday, April 26 at Baptist Easley Hospital.

Items up for bid this year include a three-day stay in Reno, Nevada, Disney tickets, a new refrigerator, a gas grill, an American Girl doll, a $500 tool pack from Ryobi and stays in Charleston, Myrtle Beach and Pigeon Forge.

Tickets are $10. Rape Crisis Council officials hope to raise at least $20,000 through the silent auction.

Tickets can be purchased prior to the event by calling the Rape Crisis Council at 864-442-5500, stopping by their office in Easley at 900 E. Main Street, Ste D or through their website at pickensrcc.org.

Nicole Hemphill, Victims Service Coordinator with Rape Crisis Council, estimates that 90 percent of victims know their attacker.

“Stranger rape is very rare,” she said.

Renee Godfrey agreed, adding that television makes stranger rape seem more prevalent than it really is.

“It's usually acquaintances,” she said.

Victims are often reluctant to come forward.

“One of my very first victims said, 'I don't want to get them in trouble,” Hemphill said. “That's a big thing.”

Victims can contact Rape Crisis Council directly through the national hotline at 800-656-4673.

“We're on call 24/7,” Hemphill said.

“Some of them many not be in a safe place, so they're able to text us now or email us,” Godfrey said. “Their safety is of the utmost importance to us.”

Reluctance to come forward after the assault can hinder the evidence collection process.

“The longer they wait, the less evidence there is to collect,” Godfrey said.

“The more they bathe, the less there's there,” said Brandy Peppers, Rape Crisis Council of Pickens County Executive Director.

When healing begins, the physical evidence of the rape begins to dwindle.

“The timeline is very, very quick of getting the most optimal evidence to turn into the solicitor or SLED ,” Hemphill said.

Rape Crisis officials “don't stay if we're not wanted,” Godfrey said.

“We do try and talk to them, to let them know the importance (of reporting),” she said. “We give them the option of anonymous reporting, which means we can collect all the evidence through the kit, but no one will know their name. They'll be given a number, the only one that will have that information will be us.”

“They have the choice to call the police,” Hemphill said. “Over 16, it's their decision if they want us to call the police.”

Rape Crisis officials make sure the victims are informed of their rights before they leave.

“But even after being informed, if they still choice not to (report), we don't make them,” Godfrey said. “It's completely up to the victim.”

But if the victim chooses to report, the Rape Crisis Council is a resource for them as the case moves forward.

“If we do stay, we make sure their rights are protected,” Godfrey said. “We're present when they're interviewed by police. If anytime during that interview, if they become defensive because they feel like they're being accused, then things are kind of stopped and explained. We answer questions if they have questions.”

Many victims are confused by the technical and medical terminology, she said.

“All they know is slang,” Godfrey said. “We're there to make sure that they understand everything, and that there's no question about what kind of help they're receiving and what's going to happen after.”

The Rape Crisis Council offers to help find counseling for the victim and their families.

After the victim is released from the hospital, the council continues to follow up with the victims.

“Making sure they are getting what they need,” Godfrey said.

If requested, council staff are present with the victim as the case moves through the courts, Peppers said.