TAHOE/TRUCKEE, Calif. and#8212; Violence and#8212; in families, community and relationships and#8212; does not immediately come to mind this holiday season. Most of us don’t conjure images of violence when asked about our favorite holiday tradition. However, violence is prevalent in our society. Each year, 1.6 million people lose their lives to violence. It even exists in our very own community. Yes, right here in picturesque Tahoe. It is on the playground. It is inside our schools. And it is in the one place where we should all feel safest and#8230; our homes.

For many, our children’s greatest fears are perhaps from something scary they saw in a movie. Maybe it was a particularly evil Harry Potter villain.

Others parents are not so lucky. Their children have real fears. Dark fears. Fear of things unfathomable. Sounds of yelling, screaming, from the other room. Fear of the silence. Fear it is their fault. Fear of abandonment.

---

---

At Tahoe Women’s Services we hear about these fears too often. And, what we often hear next is too familiar. Stories of that innocent child showing signs of violent behavior. It may start with kicking or hitting the family pet. Maybe they start acting out at school. They even turn on their own sibling or parent. This is the cycle of violence.

Tahoe Women’s Services mission is to reduce the incidence and trauma of domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse in North Lake Tahoe and Truckee. We believe everyone has a right to live a life free from violence and abuse. We work with children and adults to break the cycle through programs like Prevention and Education.

---

---

We are committed to educating our community’s youth on violence prevention and promoting healthy relationships. We partner with schools to provide age-appropriate presentations such as and#8220;good touch bad touchand#8221; and and#8220;hands are not for hitting.and#8221; We hold youth empowerment groups such as the boy’s My Strength Campaign. We educate teens on what a healthy relationship looks like and what to do if they think they or a friend may be at risk. We rally teens to advocate to their peers and educate them on teen dating violence and sexual assault through a Teen’s Speakers Bureau. Last year, Tahoe Women’s Services provided violence prevention education to 4,335 individuals.

Celebrate the holiday season by ending the cycle of violence in our homes, our community and interpersonal relationships. Give hope and expand the community dedicated to ending abuse and violence. Donate to Tahoe Women’s Services today and help us continue providing prevention and education programs to our community’s youth. Visit http://www.tahoewomenservices.org, send a check to Tahoe Women’s Services, 948 Incline Way, Incline Village, NV 89451 or call 775-298-0010. We are a 501c (3) organization and your donation before Dec. 31, 2010 is tax deductible for this calendar year.

and#8212; Submitted to aedgett@sierrasun.com