Compass Center Holds Events for Domestic Violence Awareness Month

The Compass Center for Women and Families is holding events throughout the month of October to raise awareness for domestic violence victims.

Mary Parry is the development director at the Compass Center, and she says the organization offers many forms of support to the community.

“Through our programs with career and financial services, access to legal resources,” she lists. “We work with local public schools in the health classrooms, working with prevention.

“And we also are Orange County’s primary resource for domestic violence crisis services.”

Parry says it can be hard initially for victims of domestic violence to come forward and ask for help.

“Trusting is an important part of being comfortable reaching out,” she says. “And Compass Center is a place with a very supportive environment for people to reach out. Not only victims, but friends and family of victims who might be concerned about situations that their loved ones are in can reach out to us.

“We have a 24-hour domestic violence hotline, and we have confidential services.”

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. And the Compass Center is holding events throughout the month to raise awareness and funds to continue providing these services to the community.

“One we were really excited to find out about was an offer by City Kitchen of Chapel Hill at University Place,” she says. “All month long, City Kitchen will be donating $5 to Compass Center for every signature drink that is ordered.

“So City Kitchen has come up with the Berry Mint Compass, which is a drink that folks can order anytime through the month of October and Compass Center will receive that support.”

Parry says they are taking the opportunity to ask the community to come to City Kitchen for a happy hour Thursday night from six until nine o’clock.

“Inviting the community to come out, take home a little bit of information about domestic violence and our impact in the community,” she says, “and just meet with out supporters in the community to celebrate our impact.”

Events will be held over the next few weeks, culminating with a screening of the movie Private Violence and a panel discussion at the Varsity Theatre on October 28.

Compass Center Holds Events for Domestic Violence Awareness Month

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