photo by: Joselyn King

Liz Handzus, left, director of marketing for YWCA Wheeling, and Jennifer Stevens, Family Violence Prevention Program Director for the organization, remind the public that the second annual “Kickball for a Cause” kicks off at 2 p.m. Saturday at Bruce Park in New Martinsville with Wetzel County law enforcement challenging the county’s social services agencies. A second game is slated for Oct. 18 at Patterson Ballfield in Elm Grove between Ohio County law enforcement and firefighters.

Local law enforcement and social workers will be channeling their energy into healthy games of kickball to kick out domestic violence during October.

YWCA Wheeling has organized two “Kickball For A Cause” games to promote Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

The first game happens at 2 p.m. Saturday at Bruce Park in New Martinsville, with Wetzel County law enforcement challenging the county’s social services agencies. There will be cornhole and kids activities, as well as ice cream and a coffee truck on site.

Then, on Oct. 18, a second kickball game will take place at 2 p.m. at Patterson Ballfield in Elm Grove between the Wheeling Police Department and the Ohio County Sheriff’s Department.

Resources to assist those involved in domestic violence situations will be available at both sites.

In between the kickball games, from 5-7 p.m. on Oct. 12, there will be a block party for domestic violence awareness in Moundsville on Jefferson Avenue near Ruttenberg’s. It will be a Halloween-style resource fair, with social service agencies set up and giving out candy at each of their resource tables.

Those attending are encouraged to dress in costume. There will be music, kids games and face painting.

“Domestic Violence Awareness Month gives us the opportunity to raise our voices for survivors and highlight the importance of working together as a community,” YWCA Wheeling Marketing Director Liz Handzus said. “This event allows us to come together in a fun way while reinforcing a very serious message — that domestic violence impacts far too many West Virginians and we must continue to work for change.”

Admission is free, though the YWCA Wheeling will be passing the hat and accepting donations, she added. Money collected will go toward the agency’s mission against domestic violence.

“Domestic Violence Awareness Month gives us the opportunity to raise our voices for survivors and highlight the importance of working together as a community,” said Jennifer Stevens, director of the Family Violence Prevention Program at YWCA Wheeling. “This event allows us to come together in a fun way while reinforcing a very serious message — that domestic violence impacts far too many West Virginians and we must continue to work for changes.”

Domestic violence continues to be a critical issue across the state as one in four women and one in seven men in West Virginia experience severe physical violence from an intimate partner during their lifetime.

Stevens noted that Oct. 16 is “Wear Purple Day” in honor of domestic violence awareness.

“It’s important that we show unity across the United States to raise awareness about survivors, and raise awareness about domestic violence,” she said.

This is the second year for the kickball games, and Handzus reported events in New Martinsville and Wheeling were both well-attended in 2024.

“The agencies involved had a blast, and they requested that we do it again this year,” she said. “We got to spread the message about our services, and raise awareness about domestic violence.”