BROOKINGS — The First Lutheran Church Mission Coffeehouse Mission of the Month for October is Margo's Place, formerly known as the Brookings Domestic Abuse Shelter.

From the shelter, “We are here to listen ... not to work miracles. We are here to help a woman identify her options ... not to decide for her what she should do. We are here to discuss steps with a woman ... not to take steps for her. We are here to help a woman discover her own strength ... not to rescue her and leave her still vulnerable. We are here to help a woman discover she can help herself ... not to take responsibility for her. We are here to help women learn to choose ... not to keep them from making difficult choices. We are here to provide support for change.”

Margo's Place is a community-based program addressing a community problem. What is domestic violence? A pattern of violent and coercive threats committed by one intimate partner against another. A pattern of controlling behavior that consists of physical, sexual and/or psychological abuse or assaults. A learned pattern of behavior. destructive to all those around the adult and child victim as well as family, friends and coworkers.

For help, call 605-693-7233 (SAFE).