By KARI BLURTON
Hays Post
Amid the hurts, hard streets, and harder people one can get lost…after the hurt comes, hopefully, the healing and then a new life.
Those are the words written on brochures staff and board members from Options Domestic and Sexual Violence Services are disseminating throughout the 18 counties they serve as the nonprofit embarks on a “Capital Campaign” to raise $250,000 by Aug. 31.
Options estimates staff helps nearly 40 people a month escape domestic and sexual violence — but staff and board members know there are more people in “desperate” need of help.
“I think Options provides such a necessary resource for people in the area and it is drastically underused,” said Options board member Zach Muhrer. “There is a bigger problem than a lot of people are even aware of and a lot of domestic violence situations get swept under the rug.”
Muhrer said one of the reasons domestic violence situations are sometimes ignored is because the signs of domestic violence are not always recognized — sometimes even by the victims themselves.
Additionally, many people do not know Options services exists, and spreading awareness is one way the board plans to use capital campaign funds.
“It’s not fair to victims,” Muher said. “If they (victims and families) don’t know about us, they can’t get the help they need.”
Muhrer said capital campaign funds are also planned to maintain current services such law enforcement trainings, 24-hour crisis intervention, counseling, personal advocacy, support groups, safety planning, community referrals and the “safe shelter” — a house that takes in victims who need a safe place to stay.
Board president Karly Rogers said Options “lives on grants,” and those funds are becoming more scarce every year.
Rogers said the capital campaign not only will help Options sustain services but also help to prevent violence.
“There are so many people out there who need our help,” said Rogers. “There is such a great need. Everyone has a mom, a grandmother, a brother, a sister. This is not just about women, this is about children, this is about men. …This about violence that can be stopped if we can just get out there, get the word out, get the education out there.”
The fundraising goal is to raise $250,000 by the end of August. For more information or to donate, call 1-800-794-4624 or 785-625- 3055 or visit the Options website.
Donations also can be mailed to: Options, 2716 Plaza Ave., Hays, KS 67601.