On Monday night, October 8, 2018, the Crisis Center of Taney County presented the 22nd Annual Candlelight Vigil in recognition of the fact that October is Domestic Violence Awareness month. The event was held at the Community Presbyterian Church, in Forsyth, and several members of the community – along with Crisis Center staff – attended. Among the other portions of the program, Forsyth Mayor Eddie Coleman presented a formal proclamation from the City of Forsyth; Taney County Prosecuting Attorney Jeff Merrell delivered the keynote address; Aaron Dunn played guitar and sang an opening song and a closing song; and Dennis Winzenried, pastor of Community Presbyterian Church, received the Crisis Center’s “Aggregate Award”.

The Crisis Center of Taney County serves victims, survivors, and others affected by domestic violence – including operating a shelter for those leaving abusive relationships, in operation since 1990. Executive Director of the Crisis Center of Taney County, Inc., Becky Vermeire, in her address to the audience, pointed-out that two-out-of-every-three domestic violence victims seeking shelter in Missouri are turned-away due to lack of space in shelters. This is primarily due to critical shortages of funding.