By Dave Beatty, Founder, Riders Against Domestic Violence
Purple ribbons help us start the conversation. What we do after that conversation can give our awareness meaning.
On day nine of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, let’s think about the ordinary needs that can get overlooked when someone is trying to rebuild their life.
A ride to an appointment. A meal after a hard day. Someone willing to listen without asking for every detail. A little patience when plans change.
To the person offering it, that help may feel small. To the person receiving it, it may mean one less thing to carry.
Ask Instead of Assuming
You do not have to know exactly what someone needs to be supportive. You can ask.
“Would it help if I brought you dinner?”
“Do you need a ride?”
“Would you like company, or would you rather have some quiet today?”
Specific offers can be easier to answer than “Let me know if you need anything.” Give the person room to say yes, no, or not today. An offer of help should leave them with choices.
Support does not give us the right to take over.
Keep Your Promises Manageable
You do not have to promise that you will fix everything. Promise something you can actually do.
If you offer a ride, follow through. If you agree to check in, ask what time and way of contacting them works for them. If they share something personal, respect their privacy.
Do not post their story, photograph, location, or situation because you want others to see the good you are doing.
Their life belongs to them. Their story does too.
The goal is to help someone feel supported, without making them feel watched, indebted, or pressured.
Remember the Person Beyond the Crisis
A survivor is more than what happened to them.
They may want to talk about their children, their work, their faith, their motorcycle, or a goal they have quietly held onto. They may want an ordinary afternoon where nobody asks them to explain their pain.
Make room for that.
Invite them without demanding an explanation if they decline. Celebrate the things they choose to share. Let a good day be a good day without treating it as proof that everything is behind them.
Hope can include laughter, rest, and the freedom to be yourself.
Turn Awareness Into One Useful Action
Today, choose one act of support you can follow through on.
Ask a local domestic violence help center what items it currently needs before organizing a collection. Donate directly to the center. Offer someone a practical favor with no strings attached. Share a resource without identifying the person who may need it.
You do not need a crowd to make a difference. You need care, respect, and a willingness to do what you said you would do.
At Riders Against Domestic Violence, we believe in being the bridge. That means helping people find a connection to resources, encouragement, and a next step they can choose for themselves.
RADV is a referral resource. Visit RADV.org to find help-center resources, including a search by ZIP code, and contact the listed services directly for assistance.
To the Survivor Reading This
You do not have to earn kindness by telling your whole story.
You are allowed to need help with ordinary things. You are allowed to accept one offer and decline another. You are allowed to have hopes that reach beyond getting through today.
What happened to you does not erase who you are or what you still have to give.
You survived. You matter. Keep going. One mile at a time.
On day nine, let’s make hope practical. One kept promise. One thoughtful offer. One useful act of care.
We Are the Bridge.
Dave Beatty
Founder, Riders Against Domestic Violence
RADV.org
© 2026 Riders Against Domestic Violence (RADV)