October 2026
Domestic Violence Awareness Month 2026
Break the silence. Help every survivor find a way forward.
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. It’s also our first October as Waypost — River City Domestic Violence Center, under a new name. Here’s how to show your support.
Ways to get involved
Chalk the Walk
Friday, October 2, downtown. Chalk the sidewalks, paint storefront windows purple, and drop off your raffle basket while you’re there.
Purple Lights
Put purple lights on your porch, in your window, or at your front desk for the month.
Wear It Wednesday
Wear purple every Wednesday in October. Get your coworkers and classmates to do it too, and tag Waypost in the photo.
Decorate to Educate
Businesses and organizations: decorate a window, bulletin board, or lobby with purple ribbons, awareness facts, or the new Waypost logo.
Donate a Raffle Basket
Put together a themed basket — self-care, coffee, family night, anything — and drop it off downtown on October 2 at Celebrate Church. Baskets are raffled at the Candlelight Vigil. Proceeds support survivors.
Events
October 2, 2026
Downtown Yankton
Chalk sidewalks, paint windows purple, drop off your raffle basket.
Friday, October 2. Raffle basket drop-off: Celebrate Church.
October 11, 2026
Ben’s Brew Station, Yankton
A pinball tournament for Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
Sunday, October 11, 1:00–6:00 PM. Par-score punch cards, $10 each, three chances to beat the target. Win raffle tickets for the October baskets.
October 22, 2026
Dakota Theatre, 328 Walnut, Yankton
Remembrance, reflection, and hope.
Thursday, October 22. Doors 6:30 PM, program 7:15 PM. Sign the Banner of Hope, see the silent witnesses, and buy raffle basket tickets.
Learn more
Understanding domestic violence
It affects people of every age, gender, race, and income. Knowing what it looks like helps our community respond with compassion instead of judgment.
The numbers
- More than 1 in 3 women (35.6%) and 1 in 4 men in the U.S. experience rape, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime.
- Each year, 1 in 4 women and 1 in 9 men experience severe physical violence from a partner.
- In 2021, more than 1 in 3 women murdered in the U.S. were killed by a current or former partner. A gun in the home raises that risk fivefold.
- American Indian and Alaska Native women face some of the highest rates in the country: 55.5% experience physical violence by a partner in their lifetime.
Why leaving is hard
- Leaving is often the most dangerous time. Homicides cluster around separation.
- It takes about seven attempts, on average, to leave for good.
- Money, kids, housing, and distrust of outside systems all make “just walking away” more complicated than it sounds.
How you can help
- Believe survivors. Most people tell a friend or family member first, not a professional.
- Learn the warning signs: controlling behavior, isolation, monitoring phones or money.
- Support without judgment. Going back is part of leaving for many people.