“He told me I was nothing,” Toni told a roomful of people. “I eventually believed it.”
Hers was one story of abuse, neglect and trauma.
Others had stories, too.
“My abuse started when I was 4 years old” and proceeded to only get worse over years, said Pam. Now, she said, “no man will ever hit me again.”
Another woman, Karen, said she was “set up for a lifetime of violence” when she was raped in college and, in a muted cry for help, further violated by being made to feel she had somehow done something wrong.
But that was a long time ago, she said, before she sought help from Women’s Services Inc., the agency that provides counseling, shelter and
other services to victims of domestic violence in Crawford County.
Now, “I’m a Women’s Services success story,” Karen told the crowd at the 2009 Candlelight Vigil, recently presented by Allegheny College’s Alpha Chi Omega sorority in association with Women’s Services as part of October’s national Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
“We want people to know that (domestic violence) is here ... and we need to stop it. We need to stop the violence,” said event organizer Rose Hillard, a domestic violence counselor advocate for Women’s Services.
Women’s Services’ new Executive Director Bruce Harlan and Women’s Services Board Chair Ann Areson recently told the Tribune that in just the first six months of 2009, the agency’s local Greenhouse shelter saw a 14 percent increase in the number of women and children fleeing domestic violence and a 42 percent increase in the number of days they stayed at the shelter.
Women and children seeking shelter for reasons other than abuse was up 26 percent and those people stayed 28 percent longer, they said.
And the number of people on the waiting list for the shelter’s 18 beds increased 25 percent and has been at times as many as 40 individuals or families.
Sexual assaults have increased, too, according to Women’s Services. The number of victims seeking help from Women’s Services in the first six months of the year was up 18 percent, for a total of 301.
Financial worries and joblessness fuel the upswing in domestic violence and homelessness, and the area’s current unemployment rate of 11 percent is the highest since spring of 1986.
For those affected, Women’s Services “provides a safe haven,” said Hillard, a place where victims “can start to get their lives back.”
Ryan Smith can be reached at 724-6370 or by e-mail at rsmith@meadvilletribune.com. Some material from a recent feature by Tribune Executive Editor Pat Bywater was used in this report.
Local News
Related Photos
Discussion
Vigil raises awareness of violence, abuse
- Local News
-
-
City leaders not concerned after financial downgrade
During the past five years, Moody’s Investors Service has assigned three different ratings — all within the range of “upper medium grade” to the City of Meadville’s bonds. In 2007, the city was given a rating of A3, the lowest of the trio. In 2010, the city’s bond rating was raised to A1, the highest ranking in the “upper medium” category. Monday, Moody’s gave the city’s $10,000,000 General Obligation Bonds, Series of 2012, which went on the market Monday, the middle rating of A2.
-
Elderly, disabled and their caregivers have tremendous new local resource
The new Crawford County Link isn’t a place, but an information network to help people age 60 and older or those between 18 and 59 with disabilities stay living independently.
-
County's median age rising as population still stable
Crawford Countians are growing older and aging in place.
-
Crawford Central yearlong pay freeze plan fails
Differences over details have derailed a contract featuring a one-year pay freeze for Crawford Central School district teachers, leaving district administrators looking for ways to close an unexpectedly large 2012-13 budget gap.
-
Saegertown singer has date with CMT
A Saegertown man will appear on the Country Music Television (CMT) show “Singing Bee” on June 1 at 8 and 11 p.m.
-
Court ruling means county politicking can continue
A proposed resolution to limit Crawford County employees from serving as a chair or vice chair of a political party can’t be enacted because of a Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling in a Montgomery County case.
-
Officials: Rape suspect kills himself before trial
A Crawford County jail inmate died at an Erie hospital early Saturday morning in the wake of an apparent suicide attempt, according to county officials.
-
Cambridge radio station offers soundtrack of local music scene
Lately, “I’ve been having a heavy-duty highlight on local artists every other hour,” Sam Reese said as he sat at the controls of WXCS 92.9 recently, queuing up the current block of tunes lined up for play.
- NEW LOCAL: Crawford County jail inmate dies at Erie hospital
- NEW LOCAL: Fire destroys Cambridge Springs area barn and dairy herd
- More Local News Headlines
-
City leaders not concerned after financial downgrade
FAMU Bandmates: Victim Volunteered to Be Hazed
Raw Video: Bride Who Faked Cancer Released
Raw Video: Tornado Appears During Wedding
HP to Cut 27,000 Jobs, Save Up to $3.5B
Inquiry Hears Wider Secret Service Misbehavior
Md. 911 Dispatcher Caught Sleeping on Job
Raw Video: Toddler Trapped in Washing Machine
Iowa Man With Zebra, Parrot in Truck Gets DUI
Egyptians Pick New President in Free Election
Giant Bull Head Draws Drivers to South Dakota
Astrodome Fades As Houston Decides Fate
Franciscan Files Tell Stories of Priest Abuse
Wildfire Destroys 2 Homes
Flight Diverted After Suspicious Note
Joplin Remembers Deadly Tornado, 1 Year Later
Panel Recommends Against Routine Prostate Test
Fired Lingerie Employee Claims Discrimination
Facebook Shares Continue Negative Slide
Cuba Waiting for Cyber Age to Come
8 Hurt in Oklahoma Shooting After NBA Playoff
