The HOPE Connection Newsletter

The HOPE Connection

~a quarterly publication from Hands of Hope Resource Center

~Fall 2026~

A message from Stephenie Och, Executive Director

My favorite flower is the sunflower. That hasn't always been the case, but for the last couple of years I have had a sunflower garden at my home. It is beautiful and I love to see its progression throughout the summer until the birds find their way to it in the fall.

Sunflowers universally symbolize unwavering loyalty, adoration, warmth, and resilience due to their habit of turning to face the sun.

The sunflowers core symbolism:

Loyalty and Devotion - Young sunflowers track the sun across the sky, representing steadfast commitment and faithfulness.
Happiness and Positivity - Their bright yellow petals mirror the sun, bringing cheerful and uplifting energy into any space.
Strength and Resilience - They grow tall and sturdy, often thriving in tough soil while keeping their heads high.
Abundance and Longevity - A single flower head holds thousands of nutrient-rich seeds, symbolizing harvest, provision, and long life.

What can we learn from a sunflower?

Seek the light - we can choose to focus on positivity, gratitude, and hope, even in dark times.
Stand tall and proud - they remind us to hold our heads high, practice confidence, and remain grounded in who we are and what we believe in.
Feed and support others - they teach us the value of community support, generosity, and lifting others up.
Turn to each other in the dark - they model how we should lean on our support systems and community when life gets tough.
Bloom where you are planted - they are a masterclass in resilience, showing us that we can grow and adapt no matter what the circumstances.

Be a sunflower: Stand tall, find the light, and always support those around you.

Thank you for your support in the important work that we are doing at Hands of Hope Resource Center!

Enjoy our newsletter ~Steph

Domestic Violence Awareness Month and Purple Thursday

by Rocio Fernandez Lugo

Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM), observed each October, is a time to raise awareness about domestic violence, support survivors, and promote safe and healthy relationships. Domestic violence can affect people of every age, background, and community. Increasing awareness can help reduce stigma, encourage people to recognize warning signs, and remind survivors that they are not alone.

Purple Thursday, October 15, 2026, is an important day during Domestic Violence Awareness Month when individuals and communities are encouraged to wear purple in support of survivors and to raise awareness about domestic violence. Purple has become a recognized symbol of domestic violence awareness, representing support, solidarity, and hope for those affected by abuse.

During Domestic Violence Awareness Month and on Purple Thursday, people can make a difference by listening to survivors, learning about domestic violence and its warning signs, sharing educational information, supporting local organizations, and promoting healthy and respectful relationships. Wearing purple is a simple but meaningful way to show support and encourage conversations that can help create safer communities.

Domestic violence is a community concern, and everyone has a role in helping prevent abuse and supporting those who experience it. By increasing awareness, standing with survivors, and promoting respect, compassion, and safety, we can work together to build communities where everyone has the opportunity to live free from violence and abuse.

National Bullying Prevention Month

by Barb Goodrich

Each October, National Bullying Prevention Month (NBPM) brings schools, families, youth organizations, and communities together to raise awareness about bullying and promote safer, more supportive environments for children and teens. This year, NBPM continues its focus on kindness, acceptance, and inclusion, encouraging everyone to take an active role in preventing bullying at school, online, and throughout the community.

Founded by PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center, the month-long campaign helps shift the conversation from bullying as a “normal” part of growing up to a preventable behavior that can have serious effects on a young person’s well-being, learning, and sense of belonging. One in five students report being bullied, which means most communities know someone who has been affected.

Unity Day, which is observed on Wednesday, October 21, encourages people to wear and share orange as a visible sign of support for kindness, acceptance, and inclusion. The simple act of wearing orange can help send a clear message: no child should experience bullying, and everyone deserves to feel safe and valued.

National Bullying Prevention Month is a reminder that preventing bullying takes all of us. By listening to young people, modeling respectful behavior, and creating spaces where kindness is expected, communities can help youth feel seen, supported, and protected—not just in October, but all year long.

Online Silent Auction

by Stephenie Och

This great community around us has been nothing short of amazing! Several businesses and members of our community have graciously donated to the silent auction that started TODAY (October 1) at 8:00a.m. The silent auction only runs through the weekend and will end on Monday (October 5) at 5:00p.m.

If you are looking for some great gift ideas or items for yourself, check out the link below. We have gift baskets, food, sports events and memorabilia, gift certificates for various items, and a couple of other special things!

All funds raised will go toward assisting victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, and general crime in Morrison and Todd counties.

https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/hands-of-hope-resource-centers-silent-auction

Signs of Hope

by Rocio Fernandez Lugo

A simple message of hope can brighten a difficult day, inspire a smile, or remind someone that they are not alone. This fall, residents throughout Morrison and Todd counties will have an opportunity to help spread those messages through Signs of Hope, a new community awareness campaign initiated by Hands of Hope Resource Center and funded by Sourcewell.

The campaign invites community members to make kindness visible by choosing an uplifting message that resonates with them and “planting” a Sign of Hope in their yard.

Five messages are available for residents to choose from:

“ONCE YOU CHOOSE HOPE, ANYTHING’S POSSIBLE”
“WE RISE BY LIFTING OTHERS”
“TRY TO BE A RAINBOW IN SOMEONE’S CLOUD”
“KINDNESS IS A GIFT THAT EVERYONE CAN AFFORD TO GIVE”
“PEACE BEGINS WITH A SMILE”

For more information about the Signs of Hope campaign and how to receive a yard sign, contact Hands of Hope Resource Center at 320-632-1657 (Morrison County) or 320-732-2319 (Todd County). Any individual, group, institution, or business is welcome to participate. Don’t have a yard? Don’t worry, these signs are also suited for window and indoor display. Yard signs will be available until they are gone.

No Excuse for Domestic Violence

by Connie Nelson

Domestic violence happens when one person in a familial or intimate relationship maintains control over another.

Abusers with addiction, family history of abuse, or mental illness concerns often use these reasons as an excuse for their abusive behaviors, trying to convince the victim and others that the abuse is not really their fault, due to these underlying conditions. If it’s not your fault, then you do not have to take responsibility for your actions or for seeking treatment of the issues. Victim/survivors often fall into this same mindset that the abuser would not abuse if they did not have these issues. Truth is that any one or all of these issues could and do increase frequency and severity of abuse but are not the reason an individual abuses.

Mental illness is not a prerequisite for abuse either. Most folks with mental illness are not abusive individuals. Abusers are in control of their behaviors if they behave well in public but turn into “a monster” in private settings. They are choosing their timing and their targets. Mental illness treatment will not necessarily make them less violent, as there is always the need to control.

Finally, family history does not absolutely mean that someone is going to be an abuser. Abuse is a choice of behavior that each and every one of us can make. Treatment for addiction, mental illness does not make folks less violent. Abusers do so because they think they have the right to control a partner by any means necessary.

World Mental Health Day - October 10th

by Jaz Harris

World Mental Health Day raises awareness of mental health and inspires action to support well-being worldwide. Established by the World Federation for Mental Health in 1992, it is now recognized by organizations, schools, workplaces, and health agencies around the globe.

Ways to Support Mental Health Awareness

Learn and share reliable information about mental health conditions and available support.
Check in with family, friends, and coworkers, especially anyone who may be struggling.
Attend a local or virtual seminar, workshop, or community discussion.
Advocate mental health awareness in schools, workplaces, and your community.
Make time for your own well-being through reflection, relaxation, or journaling.

Quick Mental Breaks

Practice mindful breathing. Slow, deep breaths can lower your heart rate and ease stress.
Try 4-7-8 or box breathing. A simple breathing pattern can help calm your nervous system.
Step outside. A short walk can interrupt rumination and improve your mood.
Use sensory grounding. Notice what you can see, hear, and feel to break the stress cycle.
Take a true screen break. Look at something at least 20 feet away to give your eyes and mind a reset.

Fall Changes

by Marilyn Bartell, Assistant Director

As the leaves change, most of us are focusing on predictable fall routines: yard work, winterizing our homes, and preparing for the upcoming holiday season. But for a victim of crime in our community, life has just been violently turned upside down.

While the rest of the world goes on as normal, they are facing absolute chaos. When a place once called "home" suddenly becomes a war zone, survival takes over. How do you focus at work when you don't know where you or your children will safely sleep tonight? How do you navigate a complex legal system when you are paralyzed by fear?

No one should have to face this terror alone. That is why Hands of Hope Resource Center steps in. Our dedicated advocates provide an immediate lifeline to local victims during their darkest hours. We don't let them fall through the cracks. Every day, our team walks alongside survivors to provide:

Emergency Safety Planning: Creating immediate escape and protection strategies.
Legal & Protection Orders: Helping file restraining orders, setting up appointments with Legal Aid and securing Safe at Home enrollment.
Court Compassion: Accompanying victims to daunting law enforcement interviews and legal proceedings so they never sit alone.

We cannot do this critical work without you. Your generosity bridges the gap between chaos and safety. Please make a donation today. Your gift ensures that no crime victim in our community is left to navigate fear, courts, or trauma without the vital support they need to help rebuild their lives.