Support Marjaree Mason Center during Domestic Violence Awareness Month

With over 5,000 calls made to the Fresno Police Department last year alone, domestic violence is more common in our area than you might think.

This month is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and Fresno’s Marjaree Mason Center is offering several ways you can get involved to take a stand against domestic violence and show your support for those affected by it.

How Marjaree Mason Center helps

The Marjaree Mason Center has been helping adults and children affected by domestic violence since 1979. It’s Fresno County’s only dedicated provider of domestic violence shelter and support services. Last year alone it helped over 5,700 adults and children.

The center’s mission is to support and empower adults and their children affected by domestic violence while striving to end the cycle of abuse through education and advocacy. Help comes in several ways: through providing emergency and long-term safe housing, support services like legal assistance and counseling, and crisis support.

According to the Marjaree Mason Center’s Executive Director, Nicole Linder, “Domestic violence continues to be an unspoken epidemic in our society. By participating in Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we are pulling back the curtain and saying abuse is never okay.”

Ways to support the Marjaree Mason Center in October

Marjaree Mason Center is offering a number of ways for you to show your support during Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

1. Selfie With A Cause. Throughout October, take a photo of yourself makeup free. Next, post it to social media and tag it #MakeupFreeforMMC and tag @MarjareeMasonCenter. You never know who will need to be aware of the center and the services it provides.

2. Wear purple. You can wear purple on Thursday, Oct, 19, to raise awareness. It’s a quiet way to show support at work, school, and even at the grocery store.

3. Donate to the Marjaree Mason Center. With so many affected by domestic violence, your contribution will be helping individuals of all ages who really need it. Find out more by going to mmcenter.org or by calling (559) 237-4706. Remember, even a small, tax-deductible donation can make a big difference in someone’s life.

4. Attend an event and get informed. Currently, the 34th Annual Top Ten Professional Women and Leading Business Awards is sold out, but you can get on the waiting list by calling (559) 487-1313.

You can still get tickets to Understanding Domestic Violence and the Church. This event takes place Friday, Oct. 20 at People’s Church and will help you identify signs of domestic violence and give you helpful information on how to act. Every nine seconds, a woman is assaulted in America. This is an unacceptable statistic, but you can learn how to be part of the change. You can get tickets to this event here.

What to do if you need help

The statistics are sobering, so chances are someone reading this may need help. First, the Marjaree Mason Center has a 24-hour crisis hotline. You can call anytime at (559) 233-HELP (4357). If you are in immediate danger, call 9-1-1.

Finally, you can follow the Marjaree Mason Center on Facebook, and see encouraging comments from people who have been through domestic violence here.

It’s time to take a stand against domestic violence. Participating in Domestic Violence Awareness Month activities is a start.