SAN ANTONIO -- Family Violence Prevention Services is gearing up for one its busiest times of year and the group said Fiesta unfortunately brings out the worst in some people.

Fiesta for most is all about the smiles.

"Fiesta should mean nothing but just a fun, wonderful time to spend with family and the community and to enjoy each other," said Marta Pelaez, President and CEO of Family Violence Prevention Services, Inc.

But Family Violence Prevention Services said for some, it's only a matter of time before smiles turn to tears.

"Unfortunately when people take to alcohol in irresponsible ways, things can happen. I don't mean to say that anyone that drinks becomes a perpetrator or an abuser, but for those people who have had the tendency in the past, alcohol disinhibits a person and awful things can happen," she said.

The group runs the Battered Women and Children's Shelter. It is a shelter that serves 190 people on average, each day, making it the largest like it in the state.

In the next two weeks, that number will only grow.

"In fact, numbers do increase at the shelter around Fiesta time. Two-thirds of the population that we help are children,” said Pelaez.

During this time of year, the group reminds victims no one will ever be turned away.

"We are never at capacity. Anyone who is appropriate for our services has a temporary home with us. No one deserves to stay in an abusive situation," said Pelaez.

The organization said the community has a responsibility to look out for each other. Sometimes the violence, verbal or physical, will be evident in public.

Experts recommend never getting involved, but instead reporting it to a nearby police officer.

"Do something. Doing nothing is not the responsible community member thing to do. Do something," she said. 　

Anyone that is a victim of domestic violence should know that there is help.

People can call the Family Violence Prevention Services hotline at 210-733-8810 to get guidance on how to leave an abusive relationship.