The State University of New York system recently launched a program supporting victims of abuse with care packages distributed to local shelters statewide.

The SUNY’s Got Your Back initiative was put in place by Title IX coordinators to create a level of comfort for victims in shelters receiving support for sexual and interpersonal violence.

As a national leader in sexual assault and interpersonal violence awareness, the SUNY system is putting efforts into comforting victims in their times of need, said SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher.

The goal has been to provide victim centers statewide with 2,016 backpacks containing personal items by the year 2016.

The initial goal was to raise 2,016 bags in a year, with each campus donating anywhere from 25 to 250 bags, depending on the relative student body size, said Oswego State Title IX coordinator Lisa Evaneski. SUNY-wide, there 9,230 bags have been donated so far and the number is still rising.

Many victims come to the shelters at their lowest points, often with only the clothes on their back, sometimes in hospital garb.

Many businesses have supported the SUNY initiative. Sponsors range from local business to the New York State Police Sexual Assault Victims Unit and national sponsors such as the PGA Golf tour.

The New York State police donated the backpacks and students and community members donated many of the smaller toiletry items, Evaneski said. Many victims come into hospitals and shelters with nothing, so the bags make the difficult time a bit more comfortable.

“In the past five years, SUNY has become a leader in prevention and response for sexual assault and domestic violence,” Evaneski said.

Evaneski is part of the SUNY Title IX Coordinators Association, which held their inaugural kickoff in April. The backpacks were a way to have a statewide project to help support and comfort victims.

“A lot of local agencies help SUNY and it’s important as a university that we give back,” said Joseph Storch, chair of the SUNY student affairs practice group.

In September, SUNY launched two online tools to support victims of the state and all SUNY schools.  The SUNY Sexual Assault & Violence Resource is a site that connects victims with resources and contact information nearby. The second source is used as a multi-lingual resource for immigrant students and non-English speakers.

For students, faculty and staff interested, Evaneski plans to hold an event in late October to fill bags with the donated supplies and pass them along to local shelters. In the future, Evaneski said she hopes to continue similar events.