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October marks Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and Steps to Hope is honoring victims and raising awareness with visual tributes. 

The organization has installed purple memorial ribbons at its Administrative Office in Columbus and the Steps to Hope Thrift Barn in Landrum. Each ribbon bears the name and age of a North Carolina victim who lost their life to domestic violence in 2024, with a photo and story on the back. Local victims since 1981 are also remembered with purple ribbons featuring black lettering.

In collaboration with area coffee shops, Steps to Hope is distributing coffee sleeves with their contact information during the month of October to spread awareness further. Additionally, purple flags have been placed on the front lawn of the Administrative Building at 60 Ward Street in Columbus to showcase the prevalence of domestic violence. Each flag represents a domestic violence crisis call made to Steps to Hope since January 1st of this year.

This year in North Carolina, many homicides can be attributed to domestic violence. Domestic violence affects individuals of all ages, socio-economic statuses, races, religions and genders.

Steps to Hope invites the community to visit their memorial ribbon locations to remember and honor those who have lost their lives. 

These victims were someone’s mother, daughter, father, son, child, friend, and neighbor. Their lives and stories deserve to be remembered and shared. 

Steps to Hope is a domestic violence and sexual assault center located in Columbus serving Polk County and the Upstate. To learn more, visit stepstohope.org     

 

Submitted by Jessica Cashwell