In January, February and March this year, the Domestic and Sexual Assault Outreach Center served 346 clients with 1,041 bed nights, which means nights spent in its shelter.

Compared to last year’s first quarter, those numbers have increased by about 14 percent.

Although the Domestic and Sexual Assault Outreach Center in based in Fort Dodge, it is crucial to remember that it provides shelter and support services for 20 counties in Iowa, including Boone, Butler, Cerro Gordo, Floyd Franklin, Greene, Grundy, Hancock, Hamilton, Hardin, Humboldt, Kossuth, Marshall, Mitchell, Story, Tama, Webster, Winnebago, Worth, and Wright.

Those services help victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, trafficking, homicides and other violent crimes. Its 28-bed shelter serves men, women and children.

While 75 percent of D/SAOC’s funding is from state and federal grants, the remainder comes from the agency’s resale store, the Key on Central, which is located in downtown Fort Dodge, and the annual Cake Auction.

The Cake Auction, which typically pairs an auction item with a homemade or commercial cake, customarily raises from $50,000 to $60,000.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the auction was canceled – twice.

This year, starting Thursday and running through April 12, supporters will be able to participate in D/SAOC’s first virtual auction. And this year, winning bids will include a cake mix, premade frosting and a spatula with the D/SAOC logo.

While some things have changed, one hasn’t: The need for D/SAOC’s services.

During the pandemic, many victims spent months trapped with their abusers, who were often unemployed or laid off, giving victims less chance for escape, and creating conditions that can escalate violence.

”One victim gave us a call while her abuser was at the gas station. We gave her a list of items to gather and things to do while he was in the shower,” D/SAOC’s Program Development Director Leah Bair said. ”After a few weeks we helped her plan her escape. A lot of our work is safety planning.”

The need for D/SAOC’s services is very real. The Messenger urges its readers to support the center’s mission by participating in the fundraising auction.