Play to support crisis, domestic violence hotline

BONNERS FERRY – Victims of domestic violence live in a world where threats abound and the chance of escape is overshadowed by the very real prospect of further injury or death.

Sadly, the key that could unlock the door to this prison too often lies untouched by those who could save people trapped within this cycle of violence.

“Education is the key,” said Margaret Huggins, who works with a local organization, the Boundary County Youth Crisis & Domestic Violence Hotline. “This is something that really does happen and it can happen to anybody.”

Rather than being havens of safety, rural communities can be hiding places for abusers, especially when the victim is left stranded without a support network or

means of transportation. And while it’s hard to talk about the kind of beatings, forced sex, stalking and controlling behavior that can escalate into homicide, these things can and do go on here at home.

“We had a huge amount of domestic violence in Boundary County last year – it was a state record,” Huggins said.

One of those cases resulted in the death of a Bonners Ferry woman who was killed last year by a man she had dated.

Originally formed in 1988 as a teen hotline, the organization added 24-hour-a-day availability for victims of domestic violence in 1994. For the past 10 years, the group has hosted a performance and fashion show to raise money for the cause.

This year – the 11th year for the shows – the Boardwalk Boutique, Under the Sun and Gabby Goose Child Care will sponsor a play and fashion show called “Voices of Hope” on Saturday, Nov. 10 at 7 p.m. in the Pearl Theater.

The play, directed by Barbara Rawlings and written by Pamela Lassiter Cathey, features an ensemble cast made up of local actors.

“It’s got three different stories, all to do with domestic violence,” Huggins said.

With fashions from the Boardwalk Boutique and wine and hors d’eouvres provided by Under the Sun, the event is the main fundraiser of the year for the Boundary County Youth Crisis & Domestic Violence Hotline.

And while the hotline aspect is still very much a part of the outreach program, face-to-face interaction has proven to be more effective in the fight against domestic violence, according to Huggins.

In 2000, the group opened a Victims Services Office in the county courthouse. Almost immediately, individuals began coming out of the shadow of abuse seeking help.

“Once we opened the office, people were scheduling their life so they could talk to somebody one-on-one,” said Huggins. “When Joe Blow is off working 8-5, his wife has a chance to run in there and get help.”

Which is not to say that domestic violence is gender-specific. Men and women, from the very young to the aged, as well as teens, can be victimized.

Over the past 12 years, the Boundary County Youth Crisis & Domestic Violence Hotline has seen a transition where women tend to want to seek help in person, while men are the ones picking up the phone to dial the hotline.

“That’s our evolution,” Huggins said. “Women are walking through the door and men are calling for help.”

On a positive note, the spike in abuse for this region has been met with an upsurge of attendance at the annual fundraising event, which raises money through community donations to match grant dollars coming into the organization.

“Last year was a record for us and we expect to break that again this year,” said Huggins. “It really is quite an extravaganza. Along with the play and fashion show, we have all of these fabulous baskets that we raffle off and we have an amazing silent auction.”

Domestic violence thrives upon silence, particularly from those who simply turn away when they witness one black eye too many or file an ongoing series of nasty bruises in the “none of my business” category.

The Boundary County Youth Crisis & Domestic Violence Hotline volunteers, meanwhile, want those same people to stand up and speak out. Doing so, they insist, could be the first step toward saving someone’s life.

Over the past several years, the organization’s board has expanded into a cross-section of community members who make it easier to make that stand. Representatives from education, mental health and local churches now serve on the board, along with the Boundary County Sheriff. In addition, when police officers respond to a domestic violence call, they now help distribute educational materials and contact information on how to get help.

“We’re lucky here, because we work very well with law enforcement, the prosecutor and the judge,” Huggins said.

It takes an average of seven attempts for a victim of domestic violence to free themselves of their abuser, Huggins noted, with the level of violence escalating the entire time. By working with the Victim Services Office, individuals can start to build a network of support and, if they decide to leave, will do so with a safety plan already in hand.

“That’s huge,” said Huggins. “Women who actually leave are at 75 percent higher risk of being killed than women who stay, so it’s really important to have that plan in place when you decide it’s time to get out.”

Tickets for the play and fashion show are $15, available at Boardwalk Boutique, Under the Sun and Gabby Goose Child Care.

The Boundary County Youth Crisis & Domestic Violence Hotline can be called 24 hours a day at (208) 267-5211. To contact the Victim Services Office, located in the basement of the Boundary County Courthouse, call (208) 267-7334.