10/31/2026
💜 As Domestic Violence Awareness Month Comes to an End… 💜
As the Executive Director of Family Resource Center, I find myself reflecting on what this month truly means.
For many, October is a time to wear purple, share statistics, attend events, and raise awareness. But for those of us who work in this field, domestic violence doesn’t begin on October 1st, and it certainly doesn’t end on October 31st.
It is the phone call in the middle of the night. The victim who is terrified to leave. The child who has witnessed more than any child should. The survivor who finally finds the courage to start over. And sometimes, it is the heartbreaking reality that despite every effort, we cannot save everyone.
After nearly two decades of working with victims and families, I have learned that success in this field isn’t always measured by happy endings. Sometimes success is simply being there. Listening without judgment. Providing a safe place. Planting a seed of hope, even when we may never see it grow.
There are days when this work is incredibly rewarding, and there are days when the weight of it is almost impossible to explain. We celebrate the victories, carry the losses, and continue showing up because every person deserves to feel safe, valued, and heard.
This year, as we continue working toward opening The Haven at Family Resource Center, I am reminded that we are building more than walls and bedrooms. We are building a place where someone can take their first peaceful breath in a long time. A place where children can sleep without fear. A place where survivors can begin to imagine a different future.
I am grateful for our advocates, law enforcement partners, community agencies, supporters, and everyone who stands beside victims when their world feels like it is falling apart.
But as we close out this month, I want to leave everyone with one thought:
Awareness means very little if it doesn’t lead to action.
Check on people. Believe survivors. Learn the warning signs. Stop asking why someone doesn’t leave and start asking what barriers are keeping them from safety. Support the organizations doing this work, and never underestimate the difference one compassionate person can make.
And to every survivor, whether you have left, are still trying to find your way, or are quietly rebuilding your life: Your story matters. Your safety matters. YOU matter.
October may be ending, but our commitment is not.
💜 Because domestic violence awareness is a month. Advocacy is every single day.
— Executive Director
Family Resource Center
Serving Seminole & Hughes Counties
