Residents gathered outside of the Lunenburg County Courthouse Monday evening to bring awareness and a message of hope to those in the area affected by domestic violence and abuse.

The event, sponsored by the Tri-County Community Action Agency Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Program and the Lunenburg Victim Witness Program, began last year.

Dawn Childers with the Lunenburg Victim Witness Program said Lunenburg Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney and Assistant Prosecutor Baxter Stegall spoke during the vigil.

“October has been set aside as Domestic Violence Awareness Month,” Dawn Childers with Lunenburg Victim Witness Program said. “You just want to make sure that people are aware that it does happen, and that it does exist.”

She said domestic violence and abuse, while often not openly discussed, is not limited to one class, race or gender.

“It covers all communities, and all income levels,” Childers said. “It just covers everyone.”

“There is assistance out there for people to get some help,” Childers said, “and you don’t have to live in that situation.”

To learn more about the Tri-County Community Action Agency Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Program or the Lunenburg Victim Witness Program, call (434) 572-1136 for Tri-County Community Action and (434) 696-2174 for Lunenburg Victim Witness Program.