Victim Services of Cullman County has prepared several community events including its largest fundraiser of the year, the fourth annual Masquerade Ball taking place Oct. 17, in recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
Victim Services is the sole domestic violence services in Cullman County. Director Jessica Atchley estimated the organization receives up to 1,000 calls each year from people in need of domestic violence crisis services. She said roughly half of those end up utilizing one of the two Victim Services’ shelters.
Atchley said Victim Services is the largest single-counter domestic violence agency in the state. Between its emergency shelter — where victims are able to stay between 30 and 45 days — and its transitional shelter — with stays up to a year — it is able to house up to 20 victims at a time. She said it is not uncommon, during certain times of the year, to reach maximum capacity.
“At certain times of the year, we stay full. I didn’t have a bed available just about this whole summer,” Atchley said.
Stays at the group’s emergency shelter last between 30-45 days while victims are able to stay at the transitional shelter for up to a year. During this time they are able to receive life and work skills training designed to help put them in a better position to recover from a traumatic experience and begin building a new life for themselves and their families. Atchley said this often includes learning how to build a resume, build a monthly budget and at times how to open and operate their own bank accounts.
“Financial abuse is a huge thing that we see where they have never had access to their own bank accounts. Sometimes they haven’t even known how much money they have,” Atchley said.
Proceeds raised from ticket sales for the Masquerade Ball — as well as its live and silent auctions — will directly support the Victim Services’ shelter operations and programs.
The event will take place between 6 and 10 p.m. at Loft 212 with dinner provided. Tickets are available to purchase for $60 by visiting victimservices.online.
In addition to the masquerade ball, Victim Services will also be participating in national Purple Thursday — celebrated on the third Thursday each October to show support for survivors of domestic violence — and will be partnering with Render Aid Alabama, another Cullman County based nonprofit organization, for a survivors walk Saturday, Oct. 26.