York County’s Domestic Violence Resource Center Honors Recipients of Annual Community Awards

Sanford, ME- Caring Unlimited, York County’s Domestic Violence Resource Center recognized community partners and one of the agency’s volunteers for their work to raise awareness about domestic abuse and to ensure that victims and survivors have access to the support and resources they need to find safety and rebuild their lives. The awards were presented to each recipient by a small committee of Caring Unlimited staff, along with Board Chair Ryan Liberty, at special visits throughout October as part of the organization’s Domestic Violence Awareness Month activities.

2021 Community Partner of the Year was presented to Kyocera-AVX of Biddeford (formerly AVX Tantalum), with the AVX Kyocera Foundation. Thanks to a connection fostered locally by Kyocera-AVX, the AVX Kyocera Foundation has provided consistent and growing financial support to Caring Unlimited’s programs and services since 2016. Their $25,000 gift in the midst of the COVID19 pandemic helped to ensure Caring Unlimited was able to respond quickly, flexibly, and creatively to the changing needs of individuals experiencing domestic abuse in York County.

2021 Community Impact Award was presented to Wayne Dumas of Kennebunk Auto Center for 15 years of partnership and commitment to Caring Unlimited’s Freedom Wheels car repair and donation program. Since the program’s inception in 2006 Kennebunk Auto has been an essential partner, and has facilitated the donation of 106 safe, road-ready vehicles to survivors of domestic violence, and assisted another 624 people with reliable repairs needed to maintain their vehicles.

2021 Volunteer of the Year awarded to Volunteer Helpline Advocate, Brandon York. Since becoming a Helpline volunteer in 2019, Brandon has given over 1,000 hours of his time in service to Caring Unlimited.

Human Resources Manager, Scott Beauregard, accepted the 2021 Community Partner of the Year Award on behalf of Kyocera-AVX stating, "We are honored to be recognized as Caring Unlimited's ‘Community Partner of the Year’. The services provided by York County’s only domestic violence service provider are essential to our community and the people who live here. We have had employees directly benefit from the services provided by Caring Unlimited. If it wasn't for this resource these people could very well be in the same situation today that they were trying to get out of then. Caring Unlimited was able to provide temporary housing, counseling and a safe haven for these individuals and their children. It is organizations like this that make York County a better and safer place to live."