A vigil Thursday will spread awareness about domestic violence, an unfortunately common but often hidden issue.

SABRA Sanctuary will hold its annual candle light vigil Thursday at 7 p.m. at the St. James Hotel’s back terrace.

“Right now, it’s very important [to have the vigil] because there are a lot of victims and survivors out there,” said Nancy Travis, executive director of SABRA. “Especially, the victims that are going through the abuse that don’t come forward or don’t even know that SABRA Sanctuary exists, and we want them to know that there is a safe place for them to come when home is not safe for them anymore.”

According to The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, one in every four women will be a victim of domestic violence during her lifetime, and an estimated 1.3 million women are victims of physical assault by an intimate partner each year.

“Recently, we had a shooting, and we were so sad about that and we just want to get the awareness out there that domestic violence happens everywhere,” Travis said.

“It doesn’t matter where you are, at work or home, at church, it happens everywhere. Black, white, yellow, socioeconomic [class], it doesn’t matter. We want everyone to know that SABRA Sanctuary exists; there is a safe place for you to come to get help, to get counseling.”

At Tuesday’s Selma City Council meeting, October was declared as Domestic Violence Awareness Month in Selma, just one more way of getting the word out that there is a problem and SABRA is there to help.

“I think it’s going to be a great event. We’re hoping we’ll have a good crowd and we’re looking forward to it,” Travis said. “We hope [the community] will come join us in helping us honor and remember the victims and survivors of domestic violence.”

Travis said it will be a short program and will consist of hearing personal testimonies from domestic violence survivors as well as a song from Susan Keith. Participants are also asked to wear purple to the vigil, as it represents Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

“Our victims advocate Remonia Hardy has put this together, and she’s done a great job,” Travis said.

For anyone that needs assistance or to reach SABRA, the local number is (334) 874-8711 and the state wide number is (800) 650-6522.