This month, petparknride is investing in Resilience. We will be donating 2% of March sales to support Resilience's mission to respond to, reduce, and prevent domestic and sexual violence in Ottawa and Allegan counties.

What They Do

Resilience is dedicated to ending domestic and sexual violence. They offer supportive services and safe housing to survivors of domestic and sexual abuse, and provide programs to engage and educate community members to help end the cycle of abuse before it begins.

Why It's Important

1 in 4 women (24.3%) and 1 in 7 men (13.8%) aged 18 and older in the US have been the victim of severe physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime.

"Domestic violence is a pattern of behaviors used by one partner to maintain power and control over another partner in an intimate relationship.

Domestic violence doesn’t discriminate. People of any race, age, gender, sexuality, religion, education level, or economic status can be a victim — or perpetrator — of domestic violence. That includes behaviors that physically harm, intimidate, manipulate or control a partner, or otherwise force them to behave in ways they don’t want to, including through physical violence, threats, emotional abuse, or financial control.

Multiple forms of abuse are usually present at the same time in abusive situations, and it’s essential to understand how these behaviors interact so you know what to look for. When we know what relationship looks like and means, we can then take steps to get help for ourselves as well as better support others who are experiencing abuse."

-National Domestic Violence Hotline, www.thehotline.org

Resilience in the Community

Resilience has been working since 1977 to create a safer community for everyone. Over the years a number of programs have been developed to carry out this extremely vital and important work. Some of these programs include Men as Allies, Youth Prevention, and Training. 

How You Can Help

Each year, Resilience welcomes hundreds of volunteers from the community. A variety of opportunities are available to support survivors or to support the agency operations.  

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT RESILIENCE & GET INVOLVED, VISIT THEIR WEBSITE, resiliencemi.org.

_____