RIDGWAY — Each year, advocates, survivors and supporters recognize October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM).

This October, Ridgway-based nonprofit Citizens Against Physical, Sexual and Emotional Abuse (CAPSEA) is partnering with other coalitions and agencies across the country to start a coordinated national conversation about domestic violence and how we can all contribute to changing the narrative on this overshadowed, but fundamental topic.

Each year, CAPSEA provides emergency housing, counseling, legal support and more to hundreds of domestic violence survivors in Elk and Cameron counties.

According to the National Network to End Domestic Violence, one in four women and one in seven men will experience domestic violence in their lifetimes. Anyone, regardless of gender, race, sexual identity or orientation, or socio-economic status, can become a victim of domestic violence.

This year’s campaign theme, #Every1KnowsSome1, strives to highlight how common domestic violence is and that it is more than physical violence.

“The prevalence of domestic violence in our community is disturbing. When we share the statistics that reflect how many are affected by domestic violence, these aren’t just numbers, they’re people. Those numbers are our friends, our family, our colleagues and our neighbors,” said CAPSEA executive director Billie Jo Weyant. “We all know someone who has experienced domestic violence in their lives. Raising awareness can save lives. We encourage our community to join us in helping to shine the light on domestic violence — how common it is, it’s warning signs and how devastating it can be to victims and their loved ones.”

Already this month, the Elk County Commissioners have officially proclaimed October 2021 Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Also, the St. Marys Public Library has partnered with CAPSEA for an awareness project entitled Empty Place at the Table. A display in the library honors those who have lost their lives to domestic violence in Elk County. The display includes information from CAPSEA on domestic violence, and the library also has a display of books on domestic violence.

Ridgway Wellness and Nutrition and St. Mary’s Nutrition are hosting a fundraiser for CAPSEA from Oct. 18 — 23. They will be selling a special purple tea in honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and $1 for every “Survivor Tea” sold will be donated to CAPSEA.

This week the CAPSEA team will be decorating the downtown areas in Elk and Cameron Counties with purple balloons and chalk art, if weather permits, and this Thursday is Wear Purple day.

For those interested in showing their support for Domestic Violence Awareness Month, CAPSEA has provided a list of ways on their website, capsea.org.

For over four decades, CAPSEA’s team has worked tirelessly to help Elk and Cameron county community members live safer, healthier lives. What began as the Elk County Crisis line has evolved into a comprehensive non-profit victim service agency committed to providing high quality, long-term care. CAPSEA is committed to providing education and confidential, trauma-informed, individualized services to all people impacted by violence, abuse and crime throughout Elk and Cameron Counties.