COLUMBIA, S.C. — A non-profit working to raise awareness and provide support for those who have been victims of domestic violence held an important fundraising event at Soda City Market on Saturday.
It was the final Sistercare Saturdays event, and its goal was to raise funds to help victims and their families recover from domestic violence.
“We had three dates this year, so we've grown it from last year, and it really has been a fun way to raise awareness surrounding a serious issue," Leah Wicevic with Sistercare said.
Among the attendees was Mayor Daniel Rickenmann, who volunteered to get dunked in a water tank to raise money for the cause. The fundraiser also raises awareness about the impact of domestic violence in South Carolina.
“If you haven't experienced it, there's a great chance that your friend, your neighbor, your coworker has," Wicevic said. "And so our goal is for everyone to know about Sistercare, to know that they're not alone, that we're here to offer support and services 24/7."
According to the South Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, South Carolina records an average of 32,563 cases of intimate partner violence each year.
Sistercare offers various services to support victims, including an emergency shelter, a confidential crisis hotline, and counseling.
“Constantly working with partners like Sistercare, our police department, you know, we've got clinicians built into our police department we work," Mayor Daniel Rickenmann said. "We've got trained officers to deal with this, but making sure that we understand how that ties in, especially when there's kids involved."
“Our goal is for survivors of domestic violence to know that they're never alone," Wicevic said.
If you couldn't attend Saturday's event, you can still donate to Sistercare online. For anyone experiencing a domestic violence crisis or in need of Sistercare's services, a confidential crisis line is available at all hours: 803-765-9428. General questions should be directed to the office number: 803-926-0505.