Berlin’s Carlson spreading awareness for domestic violence
Rob Gullo; New Britain Herald; Oct. 4, 2024
BERLIN — Charley Carlson, a Berlin senior who is an outside hitter and captain of the girls volleyball team, is getting involved with her surrounding community and showing qualities of a leader.
The star volleyball player is doing a project in conjunction with the Prudence Crandall Center, a domestic abuse treatment center in New Britain. She is looking to help raise awareness of domestic violence. During Berlin’s Monday match (Oct. 7) against Lewis Mills, she will be collecting items that will be donated to the center.
Items donated to the cause include new socks (all sizes), new underwear (all sizes), twin size pillow sheets, new pillows, new towels, laundry detergent, new cleaning supplies, toilet paper, paper towels, baby wipes, new pajamas (all sizes), diapers, children’s clothing (new), and winter apparel (new.)
Carlson got the idea to collect donations from a family friend who volunteers with the shelter. She said that she was driven to help out people affected by domestic violence because she cares a lot about her community. She’s looking to make a difference early on in her life for people who have gone through hardships.
“I care a lot about my community and women’s empowerment,” Carlson said. “Although I do not have a personal connection with domestic violence within my family, I want to make a difference for those who experience it.”
Berlin volleyball coach Jim Bagley thinks it’s great that Carlson is getting involved with her local community at a young age and hopes some of his younger players will do similar acts.
“It’s great to see her getting involved,” said Bagley. “Any time you get a student-athlete involved like that, it increases their understanding of the world around them. She also is a great role model for all the younger kids in the program. They see her doing things for the community and maybe some of them get involved as well.”
Following Monday’s match against Lewis Mills, Carlson will start to bring the items to the Prudence Crandall Center the same week.