WIESBADEN, Germany - Bakers and community supporters filled the Army Community Service cafeteria Jan. 23 to bring awareness to domestic violence while demonstrating their culinary skills in a cupcake bake-off.
The event, sponsored by the ACS Family Advocacy Program, aimed to alter the mindset of domestic violence victims.
"Our focus is awareness so that victims can change their way of life," said Julie Wahlers, victim advocate coordinator. "Hopefully we support them to a point that they no longer believe they need to be staying with someone who is hurting them."
The bake-off also provided educational resources on domestic violence prevention.
"Obviously, cupcakes do not have anything to do with domestic violence," Wahlers said. "It was just one more thing that we could do to bring the community together, have them excited to bake cupcakes, and give us an opportunity to educate the community and let them know that we are here."
First-place winner and Wiesbaden military spouse, Melissa Adams, chose to participate in the bake-off to support ACS against domestic violence, while also doing something enjoyable.
"I think domestic violence is one of those things, unless you actually deal with it, you don't really pay attention to the domestic violence problem that there is," Adams said. "It's crazy if you look at the statistics -- every nine seconds in the United States there is some sort of abuse."
Adams' chocolate cupcake with chocolate caramel-covered macadamia nuts and salted caramel icing won her top honors at the bake-off and a $50 AAFES gift certificate.
Second-place and a $30 AAFES gift certificate went to Jodie DeLeon of ACS for her purple velvet cupcake with cream cheese icing.
Minor contestant Zaney Allen took third place honors and a $20 gift certificate for her blackberry French vanilla-filled cupcake with white raspberry chocolate icing.
While the cupcake event showcased the talents of the Wiesbaden community, bakers were also well aware of the domestic violence awareness aspect to the competition.
"It is important that everyone has a fair chance, and that nobody is in a situation they don't want to be in," said Halee Holland, Air Force spouse.
The FAP offers many clinical and educational resources to victims and abusers, Wahlers said. "Family advocacy is two parts -- the Family Advocacy Program ACS where we do education, prevention and victim advocacy; the clinical piece is FAP with Social Work Services," she continued.
"Domestic violence is such a huge human rights violation," Wahlers said. "So hopefully either the victim decides that he or she does not want to stay anymore, or the abuser decides that he or she no longer wants to lose control, and both can get help for that," she continued.
The FAP program also has two housing properties for a victim and his or her children. Both facilities are fully furnished and completely stocked for those victims seeking immediate assistance.
A victim advocate can be reached 24/7, seven days a week by calling the U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden FAP, Domestic Violence Hotline at civ (0162) 297-5625.
In addition, FAP will host a free domestic violence awareness event monthly. "We really have to have people talk about domestic violence and how they can help every month of the year," Wahlers said.
The next domestic violence awareness event is Feb. 28 from 6-10 p.m. at the Tony Bass Fitness Center. FAP will host the "Wiesbaden Walks the Runway Against Teen Dating Violence," fashion show and after party for high-school-aged teens.
For more information on FAP, call mil 335-5254, or civ (0611) 4080-254.
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