When a victim of sexual assault asks for care at Advocate’s South Suburban Hospital, the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE) program treats them and gives them personal items — with help from generous local businesses.
Through a recent drive for clothing and hygiene items, such as toothbrushes, mouthwash and combs, the nurses were able to package 105 complete clothing sets and 200 personal care sets from items donated.
In 2016, Advocate Health Care’s south region SANE program saw more than 250 patients. Because a survivor’s clothing must sometimes be collected as evidence, the donations received now provide sexual assault victims with needed items and clean clothing to wear home, according to a hospital spokesperson.
Advocate South Suburban Hospital gives special thanks to Homewood businesses that were used as donation collection sites: Wellness Integrative Medical Center, Adjusting to Health, Beans & Greens Fresh Market, Homewood Farmer’s Market and Thomas Photographic Services.
According to the hospital spokesperson, Advocate South Suburban Hospital’s SANE program is recognized by the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Metropolitan Chicago Healthcare Council as a benchmark and model for other hospitals.