FVPC to host candlelight vigil for domestic violence victims

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Staff report

XENIA Greene County’s Family Violence Prevention Center will hold its third annual candlelight vigil to raise awareness of domestic violence.

The vigil will take place at 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 3 at The Greene in Beavercreek.

October is National Domestic Violence Awareness month and according to the FVPC, domestic violence cases are on the rise in Greene County. There is an uptick in violent attacks. As of July 21, Greene County’s Domestic Relations Court handled 139 domestic violence cases up from 117 last year. Across Ohio from July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021, at least 131 people died in domestic violence incidents, according to the Ohio Domestic Violence Network.

The FVPC said this problem happens each and every day to families and children of all ages, races, and incomes.

“Domestic violence is all about an imbalance of power and control,” said Debbie Matheson, FVPC executive director. “Perpetrators make life so unbearable that victims say, ‘Fine, we’re going to be complacent and do whatever you want to do,’ until they realize, ‘If I don’t do something different, I will be seriously injured or die, or my children will be seriously injured or die.’ A lot of our work is making sure victims know there is a way out.”

Community leaders and residents of Greene County will light a candle and “Pause for Peace,” during the vigil. The Clothesline Project, a display of story-telling T-shirts created by service recipients of the center, will be on display. FVPC leadership will address the audience and a volunteer and special friend of FVPC will deliver a musical presentation.

In addition to the vigil, FVPC’s fall fundraiser, “Purses and Pastries” is set for 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22 at the Sunset Ridge Lavender Farm, 6360 Fowler Road, Enon. The devastating effects of financial abuse is the event’s focus. A purse serves as a symbol of financial freedom. Tickets are available at www.violencefreefutures.org.

The mission of the Family Violence Prevention Center of Greene County is to reduce family and relationship violence and its impact in Greene County through prevention, intervention, safe-housing and collaborative community programs.

FVPC has a comprehensive range of services to help protect victims and provide the support services necessary to rebuild their lives. Services include a 24-hour crisis hotline, safe housing, children and youth services, community advocacy, counseling, education, and training

FVPC to host candlelight vigil for domestic violence victims - Xenia Gazette

The “Sheltering Pets” project will allow FVPC to include pets in safety planning when abused family members seek help.

Pets need safety too according to a release from FVPC. More than 70 percent of pet-owning women entering shelters reported that their abuser had injured, killed, or threatened family pets, and nearly 50 percent have delayed leaving an abusive situation out of fear of harm to their animals, the release said.

“A pet is often seen as the only form of non-judgmental support in the home,” FVPC officials said in the release. “The bond this forges is so strong that many people would rather stay in the abusive situation than abandon their pets. As well, abusers can use pets as hostages to convince the survivor not to leave, or coerce survivors into returning to the abusive home. Allowing people to escape with their pets removes this barrier to safety. Including pets as a part of the family helps children understand that how pets are treated is important, and it validates their feelings for their pets.”

Advocates will be digging deeper into the home life of crisis callers to find out if any pet abuse has occurred and if a victim is concerned about leaving their pet behind or wants to protect their pet, FVPC will safety plan with them in hopes that they will choose safety over staying or living in their vehicles.

Sheltering pets with families in domestic violence shelters is not common and FVPC officials said they are excited to provide this when needed and able. There will be rooms in the safe house that will not house pets as well.

“We knew the project was big and outside of our knowledge base so we enlisted the help from multiple community partners.” said Harmony Thoma from FVPC. “We created outdoor and indoor areas for the use of our families with pets. We also used some of the financial assistance to purchase items that will make the existing bedrooms welcoming and enriching for pets. We also plan to make sure all of our guests are safe and comfortable around animals that are not their own.”

Shelterin Pets has been made possible with financial assistance from Red Rover, Purina (Purple Leash Project), the Cheryl Lightle/Wade Skaja Fund, Greeneview High School, and individual donors. Friends of FVPC purchased items off the pet housing wish list and Greene County Animal Care and Control brought over loads of supplies and expert guidance. Francis Kennels provided staff training on dog handling.

Family Violence Prevention Center of Greene County has a comprehensive range of services to help protect victims and provide the support services necessary to rebuild their lives through our fourprong approach of prevention, intervention, safe housing and outreach. Broadly, those services include a 24-hour crisis hotline, safe housing, children and youth services, community advocacy, counseling, education, and training.

For more information on the link between abuse of people and pets or to offer your support to FVPC’s plans for sheltering pets, contact Thoma at 937-376-8526 or visit www.violencefreefutures.org.

FVPC to include pets in planning - Xenia Gazette