D/SAOC annual event honors domestic abuse victims, survivors

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and the Domestic/Sexual Assault Outreach Center is honoring those who have survived and those who have died as a result of abuse with a vigil.

D/SAOC's annual event will be held at 7 p.m. Oct. 28 in the Career Education building on the Iowa Central Community College campus. The purpose is to share the stories of those who have died as a result of domestic violence.

According to the Crime Victim Compensation Program, 186 Iowans have died as a result of domestic violence since 1995; 14 of those deaths took place in the past year.

Plywood cutouts shaped like women will be displayed at the court house and hospital. The stories of women from D/SAOC's eight-county coverage area who died as a result of domestic violence will be posted on those cutouts.

''This is to raise awareness of domestic violence and so we won't forget the lives of those who have died,'' said Penny Lewis, operations manager for D/SAOC.

D/SAOC has also teamed up with the Iowa Voices Project to share the stories of those who have survived. Katie Thompson has collected the stories of 31 Iowa women, one for each day in October, who have survived domestic abuse. This traveling display demonstrates that there is no typical victim of domestic violence. It will be open for public viewing starting at 11 p.m. at the Career Education building.

Thompson, a writer from Hartley who goes by Kate Iola, shared her own story of domestic violence for the project. She will also be the keynote speaker at the vigil.

Everyone is welcomed to attend the free event, said Susan Rutz, community educator for D/SAOC.

''This is one of those events that is so sad but everyone should attend,'' she said. ''People don't realize the impact it can have on their community.''

Fact Box

For more information regarding the event, visit the D/SAOC Web site at www.dsaoc.com.

Contact Katie Williams at (515) 573-2141 or katie@messengernews.net