ASSAULT SURVIVOR KITS®

Memorial Hospital uses ASK supplies.

In 1995, Memorial Hospital introduced the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) program, the first in Colorado.

That same year, Assistance League of Colorado Springs initiated the Assault Survivor Kit philanthropic program, in partnership with Memorial Hospital.

In many instances, assault victims cannot wear their clothing home, either because of damage or more importantly, the clothing may be held as evidence.

Assistance League of Colorado Springs provides new clothing and hygiene items for assault victims, including women, men and children.

Our volunteers purchase the clothing and monitor the hospital inventory to ensure adequate supplies.

Facts and Figures

  • In 2019 we supplied emergency clothing and hygiene items to 2,222 survivors of assault treated at Memorial Hospital.
  • Assault Survivor Kits is a National Assistance League philanthropy and has been adopted by a number of other Assistance League chapters.
  • The term Assault Survivor Kits is a misnomer – we originally kitted up the clothing and hygiene products in Small, Medium, Large, etc., packages. In later years it was determined that the packages were disassembled and provided as individual items to the patients.  As a result, we now deliver the clothing as individual items.
  • In the past, we have basically supplied sweatpants and sweatshirts due to budgeting constraints. But thanks to increased donations, in the past few years, we have been able to add slippers and sports bras to the inventory, as well as more contemporary and seasonally appropriate clothing.

“We appreciate all you do, and our patients appreciate it too. After a traumatic event, it is nice to give the patients clothing to wear, instead of paper scrubs.”

— A current forensic nurse examiner (formerly SANE) at Memorial Hospital

Nurses comfort patients.