By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
Options Domestic and Sexual Violence Services celebrated its 40th anniversary during a ceremony Friday in downtown Hays.
The ceremony included a prayer, reading of a proclamation by Hays Mayor Shaun Musil, a tree-lighting and unveiling of a commemorative quilt.
Options began with a group of volunteers from Goodland, Colby and Hays who were trying to rescue women from abusive relationships, often taking them into their own homes.
In 1983, volunteers from those three communities joined to form the Northwest Kansas Shelter, which is now Options.
"For 40 years now, we've been growing," Meagan Zampieri-Lillpopp, director of client services, said on the Post Podcast. "The more people seem to find out about us, the more we seem to be needed, which is frankly horrible and I don't really like that.
"I would like us to get so big that we work ourselves out of a job."
The celebration coincided with the annual Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
"Domestic Violence Awareness Month is about making the rest of the world a little bit safer for people who might not realize they're being abused, who might not have any examples of healthy relationships to see and who may not think they have anyone to turn to," Zampieri-Lillpopp said.
Options is encouraging people to light purple light bulbs in their homes, put an Options sign in their yard or wear purple during the month of October.
Zampieri-Lillpopp said this lets people who are experiencing relationship violence know you are a safe person they can turn to.
Allies can refer domestic violence victims to Options, which can help victims with safety planning and hopefully help them find a way out, Zampieri-Lillpopp said.
You can walk into an Options office at 2716 Plaza, Hays, or 1480 W. Fourth, Colby. You can call Options 24-hour helpline at 1-800-794-4624 or text HOPE to 847411.
A live chat option or a virtual video conference with an advocate is available on the Options website at https://help4abuse.org/.
The website has a safe escape button that will allow you to quickly close out of the website and erase your cookies so anyone who is on the computer after you will not be able to see that you have been on the website.
Options has a free app for Android and Apple devices called "My Mobile Options."
You can donate to help the Options online at https://help4abuse.org/donate/. Donations can also be mailed to 2716 Plaza, Hays, KS 67601.
In light of Options' 40th anniversary, businesses in Hays are encouraged to donate $400 each to the organization as part of a "$400 at 40 campaign."
Options has the following remaining events to honor Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
ā¢ 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday ā Paint the Town Purple, art therapy event, Colby Community College Student Union
ā¢ 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday ā Paint the Town Purple, art therapy event, Union Pacific Park in Downtown Hays
Oct. 19 - Wear Purple Day ā Show your support for survivors of domestic violence by wearing purple
Cut it Out training will be offered on Monday in Hays. It teaches salon staff to recognize signs of abuse and gives them tips on how to talk to their customers about getting help. See the Options Facebook page to sign up.
