By Logan Wells, News Director | Logan@kymnradio.net
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month with the goals raise awareness about the prevalence of the issue and connect victims with resources. Rice County Chief Assistant Attorney Wendy Murphy says that because domestic violence often happens inside private homes, people don’t see the issue and think it is as prevalent as it is. However, last week, there was at least one arrest for domestic violence in Rice County. Murphy said that the friends and family of a victim may not fully understand what they are going through:
“This isn’t really true, because if it was really true, you’d leave right or stop talking to me about it because I don’t have the bandwidth because you just won’t leave and I think and Mija can speak to this. But I think that sometimes that’s that’s a lot of what we see too is that victims feel like they’re not believed because they’ve kind of burned through the Support system for the people that that aren’t a part of that domestic toxic relationship.” – Wendy Murphy on the KYMN Morning Show
While Rice County provides many emergency services for victims, both Murphy and Maija Rojas, also with Rice County, said that the HOPE Center is the county’s best place for victims. Unlike the county, the HOPE Center provides confidential help and advocacy:
“Happen if the victim wanted to say to Hope Center. I don’t want to participate in this prosecution whatsoever. The Hope Center works with them to see. OK, let’s see what that looks like…. So the advocacy portion of Hope Center. How’s the victim to go and talk to the advocates there and really be honest and say here’s where I’m at. I want to stay in this relationship, but I need to figure out a way that I could start. Maybe getting my own job.”
You can learn about the HOPE Center on their website https://hopecentermn.org/ or call the 24-Hour Safe Line: 1-800-607-2330.
The HOPE Center will also host a fundraiser at the end of the month. The event will be a Halloween Costume Party at Stone Creek Orchard. There will be dinner, drinks, live music, dancing, a costume contest, and a silent auction. The event is for adults only. Tickets are $50 and can be purchased by calling 507-332-0882.
The fundraiser will take place on Saturday, October 26th, from 7pm to 10pm.