Some people still hold disdain for me, but it would be wasteful not to use myself as a cautionary tale if it opens eyes to our county’s most recent proclamation.
I survived a severely harsh childhood home despite having every toy imaginable. My cousins never suspected our family’s reality because I never even considered telling anyone. The facade crumbled during high school when I started acting erratically, losing friends rapidly. My twenties dissolved into drunken blackouts while sleeping on park benches in uptown Harrisburg. Every adult decision that led me to that place was entirely my own.
Everything changed when I learned my daughter was coming. By God’s grace, I broke that destructive cycle. Fault assignment no longer matters at thirty-five years old, as I continue to pray with newfound calm. My wife, Marissa, deserves profound gratitude for her endless patience and unwavering support in helping me reach a much better place.
Wednesday’s Lycoming County Commissioners meeting featured a powerful proclamation supporting Wise Options for Women at the YWCA in Williamsport during Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The passion radiating from that room was unmistakable. Watch the October 2nd meeting on YouTube to witness their compelling presentation delivered with conviction I could never match.
Wise Options stands with domestic violence victims and their families through every frightening step of their journey. These dedicated advocates join scared and lonely victims in courtrooms to face their abusers. They answer crisis calls at any hour, providing immediate support when terror strikes.
Domestic violence undermines every institution in our society. Children deserve the freedom to learn about themselves and explore the world around them, not cower in their rooms out of fear and intimidation. Abusive partners control victims financially, sexually, spiritually, and emotionally, creating prisons without visible bars.
These situations do not always end in gunfire and death, like the tragedy that claimed those brave, heroic officers in York County recently. They were serving a Protection From Abuse order designed to stop violence before it escalated. Their sacrifice reminds us that domestic violence threatens everyone who encounters it, including those sworn to protect victims.
Our commissioners challenged residents to ask their spouses how they can make their day better. I extend that same challenge to readers of this publication: invite your friends if they are okay. This conversation is not taboo, and violence is never the victim’s fault. These are simply human lives deserving protection and support.
Wise Options operates in all nine public school districts within Lycoming County, engaging students in meaningful discussions about healthy relationships. They avoid overwhelming children with gruesome violence statistics, instead allowing kids to ask questions and recognize toxic patterns they might not identify otherwise. These educational programs plant seeds of awareness that can prevent future abuse.
The organization employs an incredible force of women dedicated to breaking cycles of violence. Their expertise spans legal advocacy, crisis intervention, safety planning, and emotional support. Victims receive comprehensive assistance navigating complex systems while rebuilding their lives and protecting their children.
However, this vital work requires sustainable funding to continue serving our community’s most vulnerable residents. Wise Options requires financial support to sustain their twenty-four-hour crisis hotline, expand educational programs, and provide emergency assistance to families fleeing dangerous situations.
If you are inclined to support this cause, please donate to Wise Options for Women. Every contribution helps save lives and strengthen families throughout Lycoming County. Your generosity enables trained advocates to answer desperate calls and accompany terrified victims through legal proceedings.
Domestic violence thrives in silence and isolation. When communities break that silence through awareness and action, abusers lose their most potent weapon. Victims need to know that help exists and that escape is possible with proper support systems.
The commissioners’ proclamation signals governmental recognition that domestic violence requires a coordinated community response. Law enforcement, social services, healthcare providers, schools, and citizen advocates must work together to protect vulnerable residents and hold perpetrators accountable.
When you encounter police officers, offer genuine thanks for their service. They risk their lives daily responding to domestic violence calls, never knowing what dangers await behind closed doors.
Janis Joplin once said, “Don’t compromise yourself. You are all you’ve got.”
