The 16 individuals who had their lives taken due to domestic violence in Lycoming County were remembered during the YWCA Northcentral PA’s annual vigil on Oct. 16 at the Lycoming County Courthouse.

For Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the YWCA aims to honor victims, support survivors and bring attention to this very serious issue that plagues our community through events in October.

Domestic violence is a pattern of behavior used to establish power and control over another person through fear and intimidation, often including the threat or use of violence. It can take the form of physical violence, insults and degradation, threatening one’s children or pets, isolating the victim away from friends and family or limiting the victim’s access to money.

In Pennsylvania there were 122 fatalities in 2018 due to domestic violence, according to the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence. The risk of homicide increases by 500 percent when guns are present.

“During Domestic Violence Awareness Month our goal is to let the residents of Lycoming County know Wise Options is available for anyone experiencing abuse at home,” said Amber Morningstar, Program Director. “The vigil is a special event where the community comes together to honor those we lost and unite to end domestic violence.”

The victims honored were mothers, sons, daughters and friends whose names deserve to be remembered.

Throughout October the “Empty Place at the Table,” a display that has a place setting for each victim who lost their life to domestic violence, will be in the Rotunda at the YWCA. The table has plates with their names, birthdays and death days on them to symbolize that they may be gone but are not forgotten.

Wise Options is a safe haven for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault in Lycoming County. The YWCA provides a 24/7 confidential crisis hotline at 1-800-326-8483, an emergency shelter, counselling, legal advocacy and education. All services are free to the public.

Last year Wise Options served 1,069 adult and child victims of domestic violence. There were also 418 screenings and intakes for Protection from Abuse Orders.

For additional information on Wise Option’s visit http://www.ywcawilliamsport.org.

PAGE 2 Footer Text Here

Northcentral PA
815 W. Fourth St., Williamsport, PA 17701
P 570.322.4637 F 570-322-3029
ywcawilliamsport.org