Vigil, demonstration are planned for Oct.

Though they try to raise awareness of domestic violence all year long, the Freeborn County Crime Victims Crisis Center, local law enforcement and other agencies will be making an extra effort during October to let the community know how domestic violence has impacted Albert Lea and the Freeborn County area.

During what is designated as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the groups have planned several events to provide education about the issue, seek support from the community for victims of violence and to ultimately seek to lessen the impact domestic violence has in the community.

Domestic violence refers to violence in the home, not only between husband and wife.

Ilene Grosam, with the Freeborn County Crimes Victims Crisis Center, said in 2009, the CVCC helped 251 victims of domestic violence. Statistically, 95 percent of the adult victims are women.

While this is about average for the number of people helped annually by the CVCC, it does not include the many cases of domestic violence that go unreported, she said. Many victims also do not reach out for services.

“That’s where it becomes important that families where violence is occurring, that they are aware that there are supports to free themselves from a violent home,” Grosam said.

One event that has been scheduled to show support and raise awareness is the sixth annual domestic violence awareness candlelight vigil on Thursday at New Denmark Park near Katherine Island. The vigil, which starts at 5:30 p.m., celebrates the courage shown by those who have been affected by domestic violence. There will also be a survivor speaker and a law enforcement speaker.

“We certainly encourage the community to come out and show their support,” Grosam said.

There will also be a display of homicide victims throughout the state in 2009 from the Minnesota Coalition for Battered Women, which includes Jody Lee Morrow, Albert Lea’s most recent victim of domestic violence. Morrow was killed in June of 2009 by her estranged boyfriend Chad Jamie Gulbertson.

Also planned during the month is a “Hands Are Not For Hitting” demonstration on the main level of City Hall on Oct. 12 and on the first floor of the Freeborn County Government Center on Oct. 14. For this, handprints will be collected on a banner from people who walk into the building, who will pledge not to use their hands for hitting.

The banners will go on display in the Department of Human Services building and in the Government Center.

Grosam said the Crime Victims Crisis Center is also planning to distribute purple ribbons at various locations and have a display about domestic violence in a storefront at the Northbridge Mall.

She pointed out that domestic violence has a major impact on children, often leading to problems at school and bad choices in relationships and drug use.

It also has a large economic impact.

Grosam said between 25 and 50 percent of victims of domestic violence will lose their job partly because of domestic violence. They may also lose their housing, and there are often many health issues because of stress.