By JAN HOLLINGSWORTH
The Tampa Tribune

PLANT CITY - For local victims of domestic violence, help has been a phone call away since May 2002 at The Spring of Tampa Bay’s Plant City outreach facility. But that lifeline is impaired by an outdated and unreliable phone system.

“The voicemail system is not functioning at all,” said Linda Oberhaus, executive director of The Spring. “People wouldn’t even have the option to leave a message at the office in Plant City at all, which is why we’re trying to move very quickly to get a new system in place.”

The old phone system, which came from the organization’s administrative offices in Tampa, is 10 years old. Parts are no longer available and the malfunctions are beyond repair, she said.

A new phone system will cost about $11,000, and The Spring administrators hope to raise the money through community donations. Letters are going out this week to individuals and organizations that have supported The Spring’s efforts in the past.

The appeal is meant to avoid pulling money from the general fund that pays for critical emergency services for victims of domestic violence, including emergency child care.

Designated donations for the Plant City facility’s phone system can be addressed to The Spring of Tampa Bay, P.O. Box 4772, Tampa FL 33677.

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