Salvation Army supports those experiencing Domestic Violence

BAY COUNTY, Fla. ( WMBB ) – October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. It’s important to know that help is available year-round.

The Salvation Army has a domestic violence program providing outreach services to six counties.

Kimberly Garbett is the Domestic Violence Program’s Executive Director and has worked there for more than 20 years.

“I think the most important thing that we see is making sure that the community is aware that there are programs that are available to assist individuals that are trying to flee a situation. Many of them don’t know that there’s that availability for services,” Kimberly Garbett said.

Garbett says the program’s advocates support victims in their decisions to help them leave a bad situation.

The Salvation Army provides emergency shelter, advocacy counseling, and even assistance with court-ordered protection injunctions.

One domestic violence survivor shared her story on the condition we protect her identity.

“There were a lot of things that weren’t okay. The physical part of it is a fraction of it. There’s a lot of manipulation involved. There were a lot of people around who condoned how I was being mistreated. And when they leave and they go home, they don’t understand what someone goes through afterward. Just losing everything when you leave. I would have left sooner. I wasn’t aware of my resources, and people need to be more aware of the resources because this happens to men and women, gay, straight, there’s a lot of contributing factors to domestic violence, a lot of manipulation, a lot of deception, a lot of anger. And it can become life-threatening,” the survivor said.

She says the safety she now feels is emotionally overwhelming and urges those in an abusive relationship to leave.

Help and guidance is available. Do not hesitate to ask for help, there is no shame in what you are going through.

To find out more about domestic violence or to find resources, call the 24-hour crisis hotline at 850-763-0706. You will remain anonymous.

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