NORFOLK, Neb. -- In their lifetime one in every four women and one in every seven men will have experienced harm at the hands of their partner.

October serves as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and one northeast Nebraska agency is doing its part to help those in need in Norfolk.

Domestic violence is a recurring issue that has no boundaries, meaning anyone can be a victim.

It was in October of 1989, when Domestic Violence Awareness Month was launched nationally to connect survivors and allies to an overlooked household problem.

Bright Horizons has been advocating and providing resources to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault since its opening in 1976.

"So, we offer individual advocacy, we offer support group services, we have an emergency shelter, we have a transitional shelter, and then other advocacy," said Lyndsey Figgner, outreach coordinator for Bright Horizons.

Bright Horizons has partnered with downtown businesses in Norfolk for the past two years during Domestic Violence Awareness Month by hanging signs with educational and statistical information. 

Purple ribbons can be seen downtown as well, symbolizing support, and it has been that way for the last four years.

Anyone who needs support or wants to learn how to support victims are urged to reach out to Bright Horizons.

"So, if anyone has any questions about anything just give us a call about how to support anyone, if you see signs of them maybe struggling or distancing themselves from you," Figgner said. "Supporting the victim is the most important thing as most of the time victims don't think that anyone will believe them."

Bright Horizons will continue to advocate through social action and empowerment.

"It is very important as we want the victims to come in here knowing they're victims, but to leave knowing they are survivors, and they survived what they went through," Figgner said.  

The organization offers domestic violence support groups on Mondays and Thursdays, and healing yoga to survivors on Wednesdays.