Resolve unmasks domestic violence program

Resolve of Greater Rochester Inc., a local nonprofit that helps survivors of domestic violence, has partnered with 65 area businesses and organizations to become ambassadors to help #UnmaskDomesticViolence in October.

October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and Resolve’s goal is to raise awareness about domestic violence and intimate partner violence and how it affects one in three people in their lifetime. The #UnmaskDomesticViolence program will distribute more than 5,000 face masks and 10,000 pieces of informational material to community members in order to raise awareness of the issue.

By working with a variety of community partners, Resolve is creatively and effectively reaching people throughout the Greater Rochester area. Partners include Harris Beach PLLC, Butler Till Media, Genesee Regional Bank, CooperVision Inc. and more.

Resolve also has created a unique partnership with Scratch Bakery, which will create sweet treats specific for raising awareness of the issue of domestic violence. The company is donating a portion of the proceeds from its October sales to Resolve.

“Being a survivor myself and working with Resolve, it truly turned my life around,” said Molly Hartley, owner of Scratch Bakery. “I think it’s so important to let others who are suffering from the trauma of domestic and intimate partner violence know they are not alone and that there is hope and healing. Being able to give back to Resolve in this way is something we all at Scratch believe in and support.”

Face masks will include Resolve’s name, logo and theme for October.

“We want to raise the awareness of DV/IP and let our community know that Resolve is here for those who seek life-changing therapy. Ninety percent of clients who successfully complete our Survivor Transition Program do not return to their abuser, nor do they enter into another abusive relationship,” said Mary Whittier, Resolve’s interim CEO. “Most people believe that when you hear ‘domestic violence,’ a person needs to have broken bones and be covered with bruises. So many people suffer from emotional, psychological, financial, sexual, as well as physical abuse.”

Since the start of the pandemic, Resolve has seen a 40 percent increase in services. Rates of anxiety and depression have skyrocketed and clients are often in close quarters with their abusive partner, officials said.

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