BILLBOARD SPREADS AWARENESS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Steps to HOPE recently launched a billboard campaign over Labor Day weekend to draw attention to domestic abuse and encourage those experiencing it to call the 24-Hour Helpline. Those featured represent people of different ages, genders, races, and ethnicities with the message ‘Domestic violence affects everyone. You are not alone.’

As those who have experienced abuse know firsthand: domestic violence has no boundaries. According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2023), 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men report having experienced severe physical violence from an intimate partner in their lifetime. The children in the household suffer silently as they must live and often witness violence with no option for escape.

“There’s a lot of great advertising out there around domestic violence awareness,” Jessica Cashwell, Office & Marketing Manager stated. “Most of it features women. Although women are most of our client base, we cannot forget the men who come to us seeking help from an abusive relationship, and the children who are involved in these situations. We wanted to represent everyone because the violence affects everyone – directly and indirectly.”

The billboard is located on Highway 176 driving from Landrum towards Tryon and will be displayed through October, the designated National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

If you or someone you know is in an unhealthy relationship and need help, Steps to HOPE is the domestic violence and sexual assault center located in Columbus, NC. To learn more about services and resources at Steps to HOPE, please visit stepstohope.org or call 828-894-2340.