We kicked off our month-long schedule of DVAM community events with an intimate convening at the Ware Center, which included thoughtful remarks from Mayor Sorace of Lancaster City and CEO Susan Higgenbotham of PCADV; an impactful story from a survivor of domestic violence; and gratitude for the work of DVS shared by CAP CEO Vanessa Philbert. The morning served as a vital call for each of us to join in advocating for a community free from domestic violence in honor of anyone in our lives who may be experiencing it. 

Every October, we join in solidarity with people around the country in observing DVAM, a month-long initiative dedicated to showing support for survivors of domestic violence and raising awareness about an epidemic that affects more than 10 million people throughout the country every year.

The theme this year is Every1 Knows Some1, which calls on every one of us to join the collective effort to honor, support, and advocate for survivors of domestic violence, because whether we know it or not, it is likely someone we love may be experiencing violence by an abusive partner.

“It’s not an exaggeration that abuse by an intimate partner is so pervasive that everyone almost certainly, whether they are aware of it or not, knows someone who has experienced it. That impact goes beyond the survivor to their children, family, friends, colleagues, and entire community,” DVS Director Christine Gilfillan said. “It’s a devastating “collective trauma” we all carry with us. Our hope with DVAM 2024 is to bring our community together to inspire change to end domestic violence in honor of that someone in all our lives.”

DVAM events look different from community to community, but here in Lancaster County, Domestic Violence Services of Lancaster County (DVS) is hosting events throughout October to raise awareness about domestic violence and encourage the community to get involved with its work locally. In addition, DVS has organized a county-traveling Silent Witness Project, a poignant and powerful visual memorial dedicated to victims of domestic violence who are no longer with us to tell their story.

Domestic Violence Services of Lancaster County (DVS) has been the sole dedicated provider of services to survivors of domestic violence and their families in Lancaster County for nearly 50 years, supporting them in accessing community resources on their journey to healing and a life free from violence.

DVS’ trauma-informed, empowerment-rooted resources are free, confidential, and designed intentionally to meet every survivor exactly where they are and provide them the space to heal with dignity. Resources at DVS include, but are not limited to, emergency sheltering and transitional housing programs, 24-hour crisis phone and text lines, legal services, programming for children, financial empowerment coaching, and counseling.