YOUNGSVILLE, N.C. — It’s Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

The North Carolina Council for Women and Youth Involvement reported 60,000 people in the state received services from domestic violence awareness programs.

Yet, many organizations like Safe Space in Louisburg working with victims across North Carolina lack resources due to limited funding.

A domestic violence survivor says those resources saved her life.

What You Need To Know

  • The North Carolina Council for Women and Youth Involvement reported 60,000 people in the state received services from domestic violence awareness programs

  • Many organizations like Safe Space in Louisburg working with victims across North Carolina lack resources due to limited funding

  • The organization’s director Monica Kearney said she’s moved to learn how her nonprofit  is helping so many men and women. Her staff needs to raise $150,000 to keep the nonprofit up and running. They're not even close to reaching their goal

Every candle lit during the second annual Safe Space Pioneers of Hope ceremony represents victims and survivors of domestic violence.

Organizers read the names and ages out loud during a candlelight vigil of more than 60 people killed in North Carolina in domestic violence cases over the past year.

“It was a terrifying experience to know that he was there,” said a North Carolina woman. She didn’t want to show her face or disclose her real name because of fear of retaliation.

The woman, a mother of two, shared her story for the first time to the public at the event earlier this month in Youngsville. She talked about the steps she took to leave her ex-husband. She says he was verbally abusive and controlling. 

“He went into my own personal space. It was a private property, and he recorded intimacy within my household. He went ahead and that just made me feel like I did not have that same freedom. Like he came over and invaded my space,” she explained.

During her speech, there were cheers and emotional moments. Her friend, who introduced her to Safe Space, joined her to give her a hug. She said she’s thankful her friend took her to this organization that offers support to victims of domestic violence.

“One of the biggest steps I took was to file a complaint but also to find an organization. Find someone that can go ahead and help you. In this case it was Safe Space,” she explained.

The organization’s director, Monica Kearney, said she’s moved to learn how her nonprofit is helping so many men and women. Her staff needs to raise $150,000 to keep the nonprofit running. They're not even close to reaching their goal. 

“The donations are critical for us to be able to sustain services as they are and to expand. We do not want to deny any victim services because of lack of resources,” Kearney added.

In the meantime, the woman domestic violence survivor knows if Safe Space doesn’t get the donations it needs, victims may not have the same outcome.

“It allows you to be free and recover that life that you think that you have lost,” she said.

Safe Space is asking 1,000 people to donate $100 each to help victims of domestic violence.

To find out how you can donate, visit here.