“Empowering families to live free of violence.” Silent Witness is an awareness program involving NWA’s Benton County Women’s Shelter. The Heritage High School PTO worked with NWA Benton County Women’s shelter to place silent witnesses (red cardboard figures) throughout the school, they can be found in the office and the cafeteria. One figure tells the statistics of deaths due to domestic violence in Arkansas in 2014. There were ten women and one child. The silhouette represents a male who was killed because of domestic violence the previous year. The second figure talks about a victim, age 79 who, on August 3, 2014, was found dead with gunshot wounds to the head inflicted by her husband. A result of domestic violence.

What is domestic violence? Domestic violence is, “any type of behavior that is abusive. Emotional, physical, financial, controlling, sexual, verbal or isolation.” Domestic violence is usually male/female relationships, although it can happen to anyone in any type of relationship and any age. If you or anyone you know is being affected by domestic abuse, please call either of these 24 hour hotlines: 479-246-9999 and 800-775-9011.

The NWA Benton County Women’s shelter has been around since 1986. The shelter was created around that time because no one talked about abuse or gave shelter to those who needed a place to stay. The shelter does not discriminate, any person of any color, sex, or background can confide in them. They offer services such as support groups to residents at their shelter, and to people who are not a resident. The Benton County Women’ Shelter also has a thrift store that yo can go and volunteer for or buy materials from. If you want to volunteer or shop the address is: 1622 S. 8th St Rogers, AR. The store hours from Monday through Saturday are 10am to 6pm. Donations are also accepted! This also goes towards the shelter itself.