October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. If you haven’t been affected by domestic violence personally, consider yourself lucky. Take the time this month to think of those 31 percent of Minnesota women who aren’t that lucky. Domestic violence is like a disease in that it knows no boundaries like religion, class or age. It can happen to anyone. The past year has brought 56 clients to the Luverne office of the Southwest Crisis Center. Each received a variety of our services, but all were there because of one common thing: someone who "loved" them was/is controlling them by using sexual, physical or emotional/verbal abuse or a combination. I ask that you look inside yourself and think about what you would do if a family member revealed to you that they were being abused. I also ask that you look inside yourself and think about what you can do to help end the violence here in Rock County. Raevette LoonanSouthwest Crisis CenterLuverne