When trying to avoid contact with a violent spouse or former partner, sometimes knowing who’s on your front porch can be a question of life and death.
It’s to address moments like that, and to bring additional peace of mind to domestic violence survivors across the state, that Attorney General Brenna Bird announced a partnership Tuesday, Jan. 3, with Amazon and its subsidiary Ring. The company is donating 100 Ring video doorbells, along with complimentary lifetime subscriptions and $25,000 cash, to the Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence, to be distributed free of charge to abuse survivors.
“Instead of being afraid and uncertain every time the doorbell rings or they hear a noise or a knock at the door, a survivor can know who’s on the other side, or who was there when they aren’t home,” Bird said at a news conference. “We say this a lot around here: Knowledge is power. Here we’re empowering survivors.”
Ring has been donating doorbells to domestic violence organizations since 2021, said Raquel Medrano, a program manager for Amazon. The company has given away more than $12 million worth of the devices and subscriptions to organizations around the country, including in Iowa. More recently, Bird said, the company has been working directly with state attorneys general, with her one of the first.
The Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence, an umbrella group for 25 local victim service agencies around the state, will receive and distribute the Ring devices to clients. Mary Ingham, executive director of Mason City-based Crisis Intervention Services, said video doorbells are one of the most-requested items from survivors as they create personal safety plans.
“I think it’s just the peace of mind,” said Ingham, who joined Bird for the announcement. “People like having that camera, being able to see what’s happening at their house when they’re not there. … The reality is, all of the nonprofit victim service programs throughout Iowa are working on a shoestring budget. This donation certainly helps our ability to reach more people. The demand for services and support far exceeds our ability to give.”
How to ask for help
To request domestic violence victim services, including possibly a Ring doorbell, Iowans can contact their local victim service organization, a complete list of which can be found on the Coalition Against Domestic Violence website, icadv.org, said Maria Corona, the coalition’s executive director.
Iowans can also request assistance 24/7 from the Iowa Victim Service Call Center at 1-800-770-1650 or by texting “IOWAHELP” to 20121.
William Morris covers courts for the Des Moines Register. He can be contacted at wrmorris2@registermedia.com or 715-573-8166.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa AG, Ring to give domestic violence survivors free video doorbells
Reporting by William Morris, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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