Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
A support group for victims of domestic violence and their children is starting March 11 and will be held Thursdays from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Meetings will be at a church convenient to Mentone, Silver Lake, Claypool and Akron, and a woman named Lois will lead the group.
"The idea is to offer support and information to victims of domestic violence," Lois said, "letting them know they're no longer alone in their situation, that people do care."
She will not give out her last name or the location of the church.
"For safety's sake we won't disclose where the meetings are being held. There will be victims still in the abusive situation," she said. "She may say something to her abuser and it is not a good idea for him to know anything about the support group."
Last names will not be given out at the support group, either.
"It is best, when working with the victims, they know very little about your personal life," Lois said. "People in these situations sometimes survive only through manipulation. Dependency on one person is dissuaded because that person can become a crutch."
The victim also tends to transfer authority to the counselor.
While the group will be mostly composed of women, it is open to men also.
Lois said there is a great need for support groups of this nature.
She offers statistics, such as a person is battered every 15 seconds. And more women are treated at emergency rooms for injuries acquired during domestic violence incidents than for automobile accidents.
"Victims of domestic violence do not make decisions on their own, afraid to take control of their life," she said. "I would be doing them a disservice if I let them become dependent upon me."
Lois has her information first-hand. She was a victim of domestic violence, as were her mother and sister. Many times, she said, violence is a generational kind of thing. Victims believe that is the way love is.
"It takes an inner strength. Until they realize it's time for them to leave, nothing gets them out of their situation," she said.
Lois hopes victims will realize they're "No Longer Alone," and that's the name of the support group.
For more information call 566-2954.
