A vigil is planned tonight in Fort Dodge to remember victims of domestic violence. Connie Harris, director of the city’s Domestic Sexual Assault Outreach Center, says their facility serves as a safe haven for adults and children to escape what could become life-threatening situations.
“Our shelter has been pretty consistently full all summer and into fall,” Harris says. “Our outreach clients are numerous and we’re doing lots and lots of work with children in our eight-county area.” October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month in Iowa. Harris says the budget is tight for the center’s staff in assisting victims, so they’ve launched a campaign called “Wipe Out Domestic Violence.”
They’re asking churches, agencies and the public to donate cleaning supplies, paper products, shampoo and soap as they go through a lot of those products at the shelter. Tonight’s vigil is at 6 o’clock at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Fort Dodge.
By Pat Powers, KQWC, Webster City