The Purple Flower, Carroll County’s sole provider of comprehensive services for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking, on Wednesday, Oct. 1, announced an urgent fundraising campaign, “Seeds of Hope: $27K in 27 Days.” The campaign aims to raise $27,000 in 27 days during October, which is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, to bridge a devastating gap left by the loss of federal grant funding.
This crisis comes at a time when demand for services has skyrocketed. The Purple Flower has seen a 130 percent rise in cases each year since 2020. Meanwhile, Arkansas faces a severe public safety crisis, ranking 10th in the nation for per capita rates of domestic violence and second for sexual assault. Compounding the problem, Arkansas is one of only nine states that provides no state funding for victim advocacy services.
“The cost of inaction is staggering, both in human tragedy and community expense,” said Shiloh Grace, executive director of The Purple Flower, who returned to her home region last summer to lead the organization. “It costs Carroll County an estimated $27 million annually to not disrupt generational cycles of domestic violence, factoring in law enforcement, healthcare, lost productivity and death. Our campaign goal of $27,000 represents less than onetenth of one percent of that cost, yet it will allow us to serve 30 more survivors with critical, life-saving support.”
The organization’s work is deeply personal, born from tragedy. The Purple Flower was established in 2014 in response to the murder of Laura Aceves, a young mother killed by her abuser in 2012. At that time, there were no victim services in Carroll County. The organization was founded to ensure no one would be without help again.
Now, that mission is under direct threat. As of Oct. 1, The Purple Flower lost a federal grant from the Department of Justice’s Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) that constituted more than half of its annual budget. Despite applying for all available alternatives, The Purple Flower is one of many such agencies across the state now in jeopardy since only six domestic violence organizations in the state of Arkansas have received federal funding. The Purple Flower relies on local support from donors, churches, businesses and organizations to fund direct client services and its very small, dedicated staff of part-time advocates who face low wages and no job security.
“Every day, our advocates answer the call,” Grace said. “At The Purple Flower, we believe that all beings deserve safety, dignity and belonging regardless of race, class, gender, sexuality, nationality, education level, abilities or any other identity factors. We’ve helped survivors escape human trafficking rings, met victims in the emergency room, and rescued a disabled woman held captive in a shed. We’ve provided the safety planning, emergency lodging, and court advocacy that allows single mothers and their children to flee lethal abusers and stabilize their lives here in our community without being uprooted. We simply cannot continue without community support.”
How the Community Can Help
The “Seeds of Hope” campaign challenges the community to help raise $27,000 in 27 days. The public is urged to:
• Donate: Give directly or start a fundraising team via the official campaign page at givebutter.com/c/27in27 or the Purple Flower’s Facebook fundraiser.
• Join the Circle of Hope: Provide sustainable support by signing up for the new monthly giving program at thepurpleflower. org/#donate.
• Give In-Kind: Donate travel-sized hygiene products, shelf-stable food, or silent auction items.
• Volunteer: Offer time and skills to support survivors.
Domestic Violence Awareness Month Events The Purple Flower hosted candlelight vigils to honor victims this week — on Monday, Oct. 6, in Berryville; Tuesday, Oct. 7, in Green Forest; and Wednesday, Oct. 8, in Eureka Springs.
Awareness Scavenger Hunts with daily clues and prizes will be held Oct. 13-17 in Berryville and Oct. 2024 in Eureka Springs. A Seeds of Hope Harvest Gala will be held at the end of the month to thank supporters.
The Purple Flower provides support, advocacy, resources, education, and empowerment to break cycles of violence and heal trauma for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking in Carroll County. Operating without an emergency shelter in the county, the organization provides mobile advocacy, a 24/7 crisis line, safety planning, crisis intervention, emergency safe lodging, transportation, medical accompaniment, law enforcement coordination, court advocacy and emotional support. In 2025 alone, The Purple Flower has provided more than 1,000 lifeline services to more than 300 survivors.