LIMA, OH(WLIO) - Crossroads Crisis Center took a night to honor victims and those who stand up for them.
Crossroads hopes that everyone went home understanding the importance of being there for people who are being abused.
The Annual Candlelight Vigil paid tribute to more than 30 men, women, and children who lost their lives to domestic violence in Allen County since 1990. Several victims were less than two years old. One survivor also addressed the crowd to share her own story, explaining why some people choose to stay and how she saved herself and her children.
Crossroads hopes that everyone went home understanding the importance of being there for people who are being abused. They also want anyone in a bad situation to see that there is a way out.
"It's very hard to break the cycle of abuse. It's also very scary, and they should definitely reach out and speak to an advocate and safety plan. Post-separation abuse is a thing, so we want to make sure that we talk through that with the survivor, and then we also want to make sure that they can flee safely," said Christel Keller, the executive director of Crossroads Crisis Center.
If you need resources to escape an unsafe relationship or someone to talk to, you can call Crossroads' 24/7 hotline at (419) 228-4357.
