http://ozarkspub.vo.llnwd.net/o37/KSMU/audio/mp3/domesticvi_2282.mp3
Fifteen years of emotional and physical abuse led a woman we'll call Mary to the Family Violence Center in Springfield. She and her three children fled their home when her husband's abuse escalated to death threats. Mary and her kids found refuge at the center's shelter. Now, Mary says she wishes the center offered programs for women who are on their way out of the shelter.
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To raise money to pay for the creation of after-care services that would benefit women like Mary, the Family Violence Center is holding a golf tournament.
It's the second annual Bill and Payne Stewart Parent-Junior Open. Teams can now sign up to participate in the tournament. And there's a need for businesses willing to sponsor the event.
There's also a need for people willing to donate items to the silent auction that will be the same day as the tournament.
Deborah Baker with the Family Violence Center says community participation in the event is critical to making sure the family violence center can offer the services abused women need.
She says it's not enough to offer short-term services.
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The risk of slipping back into an abusive relationship is something that haunts many victims of domestic violence. Baker says the first few times women leave their abuser; they end up returning to him after a few weeks. That's why she says the family violence center needs to maintain contact with victims.
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If you would like more information on the golf tournament that benefits the Family Violence Center, call the center at 837-7700. And a reminder that the center has an abuse hotline available 24 hours a day'that number is 864-safe, 864-7233.