The numbers aren’t pretty, but neither is the act.

Over the Fourth of July weekend, no less than seven domestic violence incidents were reported in Sampson County, with one a call regarding a 30-year-old victim being chased by her ax-wielding husband. It is a number that has continually risen in recent months and, sadly, it comes as no surprise to Pam Gonzalez, executive director of Sampson’s domestic violence shelter, U Care.

“The number has more than doubled over the past six months,” she acknowledged when told of domestic calls over the weekend “Those numbers will be more, I can tell you, because, typically over the holidays, we won’t get calls until three days after because of the fear that some have.”

The rising numbers are for a variety of reasons. Gonzalez said while there should be no acceptable reason to abuse another, there are factors that contribute to the rise in abuse cases. One victim, she noted, said her beating was a direct result of economic stress.

“We recently had one (victim) whose husband was laid off, and there was no money coming in,” she said. “The bills didn’t stop or slow down, they kept coming in, and the man just snapped and he took it out on her.”

Although no major injuries were reported, over the three-day weekend, there were four threatening phone calls, three assaults and just one arrest made in relation to domestic violence incidents.

Gonzalez, who has been working at the non-profit organization that helps victims of domestic violence and sexual assault since its inception, said with an expected influx of more citizens into Sampson County over the next five years, that number will keep rising.

“There is going to be an increase in population here,” she said, “and it is going to get worse than it is now, I hate to say.”

Working mostly on donations and help from volunteers, the organization raises funding to help domestic violence victims and families through two downtown thrift stores in Clinton and Newton Grove, called The Bee Hive.

They have also found other creative ways through the internet to help get victims the help they need.

“We do have our website and we are also on Facebook,” Gonzalez said. “If someone is afraid to call us (phone lines are open 24/7), they can -email us. I get all the e-mails daily and will respond as soon as I get them. If they have a question they want answered, I will either e-mail them back or they can indicate where they will be looking and, without mentioning anything specific, I will find a way to post their answer on my Facebook blog or back in the e-mail.”

Gonzalez said that if an abuse victim is nervous about getting on the computer, the U Care website has a function on the site that can help.

“We have a feature on our site that will clear the history just by hitting a certain key,” she said. “If they feel like they are being watched or if they feel in danger, they can hit the key and wipe the history clean.”

Either way, Gonzalez said that first step of reaching out for help is a crucial one.

“Some people feel so trapped, like they don’t know what to do,” she said, “and they are terrified to get help. But we want them to know that we are here and we want to help.”

Gonzalez is hoping those victims will take that brave first step and, in turn, bring those rising domestic violence numbers down.

U Care’s crisis hotline number is 910-596-0931 or call toll-free 877-602-7780; U Care on Facebook is www.facebook.com/ucareinc and its official website is www.ucaredv.org. Donations are always accepted at both Bee Hive stores — new yellow drop boxes have been added for after hour clothes donations.

To reach Doug Clark call 910-592-8137 ext. 123 or send e-mail to sisports@heartlandpublications.com.