Take "The Next Step" to make a difference in the life of a victim of domestic abuse in Washington or Hancock County.

""When I was sitting in court, scared and alone, you came to sit with me and let me know that I was not really alone at all. I can never thank you enough." These are actual words from a person who had a court advocate with them on the day of a hearing for a protection order. A court advocate provides a basic understanding of the way the court procedures work, but more importantly, the advocate is there to hold a hand or help someone be as calm as possible. "I called just to talk because I was so confused and afraid. You listened and cared." This synopsis of feelings is very real. Our hotline volunteers answer calls directed through an answering service from their homes. Although there are occasional serious emergency calls, most of the calls that we handle are from people who just need to feel reassured that they have a right to be free from abuse. Neither position calls for prior experience with domestic abuse, but each does require compassion, sensitivity and clear communication skills. These two positions are ways that anyone can make a real difference, one person at a time, in standing up against domestic violence in our community. A small commitment of time from you, as little as a few hours once a month, can help people to feel less alone and may even save lives.