AWARENESS....
October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month...

    Did you know that one in three teens is a victim of physical, sexual, emotional, or verbal abuse? One in four women experiences domestic violence in her lifetime? But it’s not just in the U.S. It’s not just in Oregon. It’s here. At home. In the Gorge. At Helping Hands, we help survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault create positive changes in their lives by providing shelter, advocacy, and education.

    As reported by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV) many women experience domestic violence, but men can also be victims of domestic violence. Immigrants face unique issues in escaping abusive homes, including isolation, threats, and intimidation. And while our heteronormative society would have us believe that domestic violence only happens between partners of the opposite sex – by men, on women – statistics show that same-sex couples experience domestic violence at the same rate. LGBT couples actually face additional challenges in identifying and reporting abuse.

      “...Victims of abuse may experience punched walls, control of finances, lying, using children to manipulate a parent’s emotions, intimidation, isolation from family and friends, fear, shame, criticism, cuts, crying and afraid children, broken bones, confusion, forced sexual contact, manipulation, sexist comments, yelling, rages, harassment, neglect, shoving, screaming, jealousy and possessiveness, loss of self esteem, abandonment, silent treatment, rape, destruction of personal property, unwanted touching, name calling, strangling, slapping, kicking, bruises, punching, stalking, sabotaging attendance at job or school, brainwashing, violence to pets,  public humiliation,  prevention of seeking medical and dental care, ridicule, restraining, threats to harm family and friends, threats to take away the children,  threats of being kicked out, threats of weapons, threats of being killed...” (from the NCADV)

October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month...
...but every day of every month of every year is a good day to help someone get free from domestic violence, because it happens every day of every month of every year, and it’s possibly happening to someone you know. Speak out today. Get Involved, Take A Stand, Say No More!

You can get involved this month!!! Here’s how...
October 6th: 
6:30pm-7:30pm on the Hood River Library Lawn (on Oak) Helping Hands will be host a Candlelit Vigil to honor those that have been lost to egregious acts of violence.
October 24th:
On Saturday, October 24th from 6-9pm we are hosting Helping Hands Annual Auction Gala at Springhouse Cellars in Hood River. Admission is free and open to everyone—so bring a friend or two. Enjoy hearty appetizers, music, and an evening of fundraising and fun—100% of the proceeds from the auction support the survivors, programs, and shelter of Helping Hands. This year, Helping Hands introduces a scholarship fund in the memory of Millie May, one of the organization's founders, who passed away earlier this year.