RIDGWAY — #Every1KnowsSome1.
This is the campaign message for Domestic Violence Awareness Month 2023, a partnership between the National Network to End Domestic Violence and Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Every year in the month of October, survivors, loved ones, and supporters gather to recognize DVAM and “raise awareness, increase donations and volunteer efforts, and deepen community engagement by connecting our work nationwide.”
CAPSEA (Citizens Against Physical, Sexual, and Emotional Abuse Inc.), based in Ridgway, aims to provide education to communities, as well as confidential, trauma-informed services to those impacted by violence, abuse and crime in Elk and Cameron counties. CAPSEA offers a 24-hour confidential hotline, abuse victim services, crisis shelter and housing, counseling, education and training and more for victims in need.
As it does each year, throughout the month of October, CAPSEA has been painting the town purple, spreading awareness through social media, news outlets and community events, “designed to engage advocates, partners and the Ridgway community,” according to its website.
“CAPSEA is calling on our neighbors and local businesses to help shed the light on this abuse, and to show your support by donating to local organizations, like CAPSEA, who provide assistance to victims and survivors,” it says.
DVAM TABLE AT SENIOR CENTERThe agency has kept the community updated during the DVAM campaign on its Facebook page, showing many supporters in purple throughout the month of October. A big part of the campaign has been “healing through art,” with CAPSEA hosting various art workshops at places throughout the community, such as senior centers. Volunteers have enjoyed painting purple works of art to raise awareness and spread hope.
Most recently, the CAPSEA team visited the Bennetts Valley Senior Center in Weedville, where members crafted vibrant canvases with messages of resilience and hope.
And, the agency has been hosting a DVAM “rock scavenger hunt” this month, where hand-painted rocks are hidden across Elk and Cameron counties. Each week, a clue has been posted, hinting at how people can find the rocks. Once they do, they snap a photo, put the rock back and send it to (814) 245-6172 to win prizes.
“Someone you care about is likely experiencing domestic violence, whether you can see it or not,” www.capsea.org says. “One in three women and one in seven men will experience severe physical violence from an intimate partner in their lifetime. One isn’t just a number, it’s someone — a family member, a neighbor, a coworker, a friend. Domestic violence affects all of us, and all of us must be a part of the solution.”
LEAVE THE LIGHTS ONAlthough DVAM will soon be coming to a close as the end of October nears, CAPSEA’s need for community support is only growing. Its Leave the Lights On fundraiser is dedicated to raising crucial funds to sustain its emergency shelter.
Executive Director Billie Jo Weyant stressed that the agency is counting on its supporters to help “brighten the path to healing.”
“The fundraiser’s theme, ‘Leave the Lights On,’ aims to capture our commitment to providing a safe haven for those in need, symbolized by the continuous illumination of our shelter’s lights,” the CAPSEA website states.
Weyant said the funds needed currently are for the original CAPSEA shelter, and donations have been dwindling, coupled with operational costs and factors such as inflation.
The shelter is community supported.
“There are many costs that we cannot cover with state and federal grant dollars,” she said. “CAPSEA also must use the ‘community supported monetary donations’ as a cash match for our state and federal funds. The grantors must see that Elk and Cameron County supports the shelter.”
Cash donations CAPSEA receives are used for utilities, maintenance repairs, food, and medical needs for people in shelter, said Weyant.
“All in all, without local cash donations, the shelter cannot stay open,” she said.
Weyant also wants to address any confusion there may be about CAPSEA purchasing the building at 9 South Mill Ave. in Ridgway. In 2022, CAPSEA purchased the Udarbe Business Towers building, with the intention of incorporating all of its services for victims under one roof within the next five years.
“This will one day house all of CAPSEA’s services, shelter, and housing programs under one roof, but that will not be realized for another two to three years or more,” Weyant clarified. “We still need and use the emergency shelter space to provide life saving housing to those in need.”
