The bright blue and purple toilet is hard to miss.
Parked in front yards, set up outside of businesses and gracing the lobbies of local organizations, the multi-colored porcelain throne pops up around Johnson County every spring and fall.
Through its Flushing Out Sexual Violence campaign, ASSIST Indiana aims to draw attention to the pervasive problem of sexual violence while generating money to help those touched by it. The effort has helped raise thousands of dollars to provide resources, support and counseling to immediate victims of sexual violence in addition to those close to victims who have been impacted by it.
The campaign has become wildly popular, spreading beyond Johnson County and throughout central Indiana. Every time the toilet pops up somewhere new, it helps fund prevention efforts, advocacy and assistance for people in crisis.
With other events and awareness components planned for April, including the Take Back the Night event, ASSIST Indiana hopes to bring people together to push back against violence.
“It’s a chance for community involvement, awareness and allows for education while taking a stand against violence, standing in support with all those who have been affected directly and indirectly, and possibly providing the beginning steps for healing,” said Tracy McQueen, victim advocate for ASSIST Indiana.
ASSIST Indiana holds Flushing Out Violence fundraisers in both April — Sexual Assault Awareness Month — and in October, which is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
The effort was founded three years ago, as officials pondered a way to raise awareness and funds at the same time.
Starting on April 1, the toilets travel to different locations based on people participating in the fundraiser. How it works is, people offer $30 to ASSIST to choose the place they want to get toilet-ed. Supporters can either remain anonymous, or let their prankee know who sent them the toilet.
That next person has choices to deal with the prank.
They can donate $50 to have the toilet removed. The $50 donation provides supplies for those who come to ASSIST, including children, to share their story through writing or art. The money also helps replenish sand in the agency’s sand tray therapy.
Recipients of the toilet can also pay $75 to have it removed and send it to someone else.
“In doing that, it provides prevention education for approximately 15 students, and other forms of prevention education,” McQueen said. “As of this year, we’ve taught about 3,500 students. Last year, it was almost 12,000.”
A $100 donation level is also available, which allows donors to remove the toilet, send it someone else, and insure that they won’t receive it again, McQueen said. Those funds maintain ASSIST Indiana’s supply pantry for clients.
Participants have their picture taken and placed on social media, though they can decline that if they choose.
“It’s part of their willingness to step up and show awareness in their communities and support of what we do,” McQueen said.
The fundraiser has taken off. Between April and October 2021, it went to about 230 people, businesses and organizations.
“The awareness of who we are and what we do has continued to grow year after year,” McQueen said. “It’s gone to judges, prosecutors’ offices, different businesses, CEOs.”
April is a busy month for ASSIST Indiana. In addition to organizing Flushing Out Sexual Violence, the group is also partnering with Franklin College and Turning Point Domestic Violence Services to put on the Take Back the Night event on April 14.
Supporters will gather at the college for a rally, before marching to the county courthouse and back to the college.
“It allows ASSIST to show our support, offer our help during or after the march, to put faces with names as a supportive community partner or provider and to discuss services we have to offer to individuals and the community,” McQueen said. “We look to promote and encourage a safe, inclusive and empowering community and environment for anyone seeking help. At the end of the night, we all have the same outcomes in mind for the future – to end sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual abuse and all forms of sexual violence.”
