Community members gathered at T.B. Butler Fountain Plaza on Thursday night for the East Texas Crisis Center’s Hope Awards ceremony for Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

The Crisis Center presented awards to people who have made a direct impact on the center.

Award recipients were Deputy David Biggs of the Smith County Sheriff’s Office; George Brigman of Marvin United Methodist Church; Eddie Espinosa of Green Acres Baptist Church; Rip Duncan of the Lions Club; volunteer Diana Dimon; Hank Gilbert in memory of his wife, Carla; and Sherry Magness and Sheila Parker of Smith County Victim Services.

There was face painting, a DJ, cookies and trunk-or-treating for children at the event.

“We hold events in order to give awareness to our community to let them know that this is a prevalent problem that needs to be addressed,” said Yulonda Boyd, the Crisis Center’s family violence coordinator.

“I believe it’s our moral responsibility as individuals in the community to make sure that people know there is a place they can come, a place they can get help and that they don’t have to live in a situation that they’re in if it’s unsafe for them or their children. This is an opportunity for our community to come together and work together as one so we can end domestic violence.”

Boyd oversees the client services department at the center.

“I make sure everything runs smoothly,” Boyd said. “Mostly what I do is work with women with protective orders, legal assistance and helping them get protective orders or even emergency protective orders as they are trying to hide from their abuser or have a safety plan from that abuser.”

Boyd has a master’s degree in psychology and teaches at LeTourneau University part time but works at the center full time.

“This is not a job for me, this is my passion,” she said.

Boyd, who was in an abusive marriage, uses her experience to help the women, men and children at the center start their life over.

“I, myself, have been through some things,” Boyd said. “I was married for several years and my abuse was more emotional. It was hard to deal with. I had two children so it was even harder to get out of the situation.

“I didn’t know about places like this, so it was hard for me, it was hard to be able to move forward; it was hard to trust anyone. Basically with God and my church family I was able to move on,” she said. “When I am talking to these ladies, I can see them and I know they have it in them to go beyond where they are at, so that’s where I come in to let them know they have a safe place, that they are going to be OK and that they can get through this.”