Altus Times

"Melanie" asked to keep her identity unknown in this article.

It waited in the closet for her just as she prepared it.

"I always kept a suitcase packed at all times," Melanie said. "You want to be ready."

Although, she was ready many times, her suitcase was not the only thing hiding in the closet. So was her self-esteem.

For Melanie and many others like her, walking away from domestic violence can be a step into security and uncertainty at the same time.

"I even got to the point where I was walking out the door and I had to backtrack," Melanie said.

In an effort to bring more awareness to domestic violence issues and places of refuge, the ACMI House got people walking. Their Walk Away from Domestic Violence began at 8 a.m. Saturday at the city reservoir.

"Sixty-two laps was our goal combined," said Cori Brola, client advocate/volunteer coordinator. "Because 62 women are victimized by an intimate partner every

hour."

The ACMI house serves five counties in southwest Oklahoma, which include Jackson, Tillman, Greer, Harmon and Kiowa. Last year they answered over 630 crisis calls.

"If they want to come into the shelter then we arrange to meet them in a public place," said Carol Burgamy, crisis intervention specialist. "Then we go or a volunteer will go and bring them to the shelter."

There are three counselors on staff at ACMI House, each working with either in resident clients, out of residence clients or children.

Burgamy said listening is the biggest key to providing assistance, and then they can help them get through their situation.

"ACMI house for me was a wonderful safe place to get out of the abusive relationship I was in," Melanie said. "They treat you like everybody needs to be treated."

Yet, Melanie said she pictured ACMI House to have rows of beds lined up against a wall.

"I was unsure of it -- my idea of a shelter is what I see on TV," Melanie said. "But, it's more like an individual type place."

ACMI House is a United Way organization and has also been funded by the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, Victims Against Women Act, Victims of Crime Act, the City of Altus, and private contributions.

Walkers were sponsored by one of 29 contributing businesses in the area.

"I knew it existed, I knew it was there and I knew I could go there, I just didn't -- it all sounded so hard to do. I just couldn't make myself do it," Melanie said. "I was such a mess. I was really disoriented. I was scared."

Burgamy said primary reasons people do not leave an abusive relationship are because of finances and children.