(Spirit Lake)– The month of October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. John McMahon, a Development Specialist with the Spirit Lake office of Family Crisis Centers, tells KUOO news they’re working with area businesses and their employees to help spread the word…
“It’s not just happening in our area, it’s happening through the entire region that FCC serves directly and that’s 29 counties in Iowa. I’m inviting businesses to participate by encouraging employees to donate five dollars for the FCC mission, and then those employees will receive a sticker that shows support and brings awareness to the fact that October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month so we are thrilled that locally Northwest Bank has joined us in that effort and Northwest Bank is also one of our corporate sponsors, and so just want to invite any other businesses that would like to participate in this to help us raise awareness to reach out to me and I’d be happy to set them up with stickers to do that.”
He says they also have a round-up campaign going on…
“Our thanks to Fareway which will be doing round up campaigns not only in our area but in several locations in the region. In Sioux Center that will be September 30th through October 12th; in Sheldon that will be October 7th through 12th; in Orange City that will be October 7th through 12th; and here in Spirit Lake that will be October 21st through November 2nd. And then also Hy-Vee has approached me a little bit differently but they are creating an opportunity for people to donate to FCC when they’re checking out their groceries. We’re still working on those details with Hy-Vee but more will be said on that once that becomes solid.”
McMahon says a special event October 21st-25th at the Sioux Center Mall will also help raise awareness…
“It’s a display of empty chairs, each chair representing someone who has died in Iowa as a result of domestic violence. Since 1995 386 Iowans have been killed as a result of domestic violence.”
McMahon says they’re replicating that display to a certain extent throughout the month at their Spirit Lake office as well. And while October is putting a special focus on domestic violence, McMahon says Family Crisis Centers provides support services to a wide range of crime victims…
“We have major divisions that serve victims of homicide and other violent crimes, another division that serves victims of domestic violence, but we also work with victims of human trafficking which is another one of those things that we like to think doesn’t exist in our community and yet it does. It exists in every community. But victims of any crime. Our advocacy services, they look different from case to case depending on the circumstance and the nature of the crime. But it really is an accompaniment. It is walking with those victims through that experience of being a victim, from the moment they contact us which a lot of times if there is a crime scene it’s right on the crime scene, until that person doesn’t feel like they need our services at all anymore.”
McMahon says their services are free and 100 percent confidential. Anyone experiencing such an emergency or crisis can call their hotline, 24-7, at 800-382-5603.
A ribbon cutting for Family Crisis Center’s new office at 3121 Highway 71 in Spirit Lake will be held October 22nd.
