D/SAOC vigil set for Thursday
Event honors survivors, victims of domestic abuse
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The Domestic/Sexual Assault Outreach Center (D/SAOC) will hold its annual Candlelight Vigil to honor survivors and victims on Thursday at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 400 S. 13th St.
The event begins at 6 p.m. and is open to the public.
In the past, the vigil has included a survivor or family member of a victim of domestic abuse as a speaker. This year the format will change and there will be no speaker, but D/SAOC will include a few new ways to honor those affected by domestic abuse.
"October is Domestic Violence Awareness month," said Program Director Leah Bair. "Abuse happens all year round, but this is the month that awareness is seen, talked about and discussed."
One of the mainstays of the vigil is the red silhouettes that represent a person who was lost to domestic violence. Each silhouette includes the story of that person's death.
Names of victims will also be read during the vigil.
"During the annual Candlelight Vigil we honor those that have lost their lives to domestic violence," Bair said.
The vigil also serves a reminder that the staff at D/SAOC is able to help victims of domestic and sexual abuse.
“A lot of people know what we do, but they don’t know the capacity to which we do it and this just brings light to everything that we do to help victims in our area," said Bair.
From Jan. 1 to October this year D/SAOC served 600 clients and provided more than 3,000 bed nights where a client stayed at the shelter.
“If you can, come to this vigil, just so you can see that there is help out there and that people have made it and survived and they will tell you that reaching out is the first step that you can do to be back on the road to safety,” added Bair. “And know there are people that will help you get there. You don’t have to do it alone.”
Refreshments and a time for fellowship will be offered at the vigil as well.
For any questions about the vigil, contact Bair at DSAOC. Her email is leahg@dsaoc.com.