Coasters, posters and TALK, to prevent partner violence: 15 restaurants, bars have joined Saving Grace in new program

(Update: Adding video, comments from Saving Grace official, partners)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Saving Grace recently launched a new violence prevention partner program. The nonprofit, Saving Grace, supports survivors of sexual assault, stalking and of intimate partner violence, by raising awareness and providing restaurants and bars with coasters and posters on how to help.

"Intimate partner violence is a kind of a catch-all term that includes a lot of means of abuse that it can occur in a relationship," Trish Meyer, Saving Grace assistant executive director, said Tuesday.

IPV, as it's called, is an intimate or dating relationship that lead to harm or threats to harm one's partner. 

Within a week of Saving Grace announcing the program, they had eight participants. It has quickly grown to 15, among them Craft Kitchen and Brewery.

Co-owner Courtney Stevens said, "I think them hanging up their posters and coasters and places where people frequent is the best way to spread the word."

Another restaurant taking part is Mountain Burger, at NorthWest Crossing, where General Manager Colin Gladdin said, "This one is something that I think hits home for a lot of people, in the fact of doing everything we can to prevent violence against women, violence against your partners."

Saving Grace said the program aims to raise awareness and encourage open conversations about IPV by providing establishments with specially designed coasters and posters that promote the importance of talking about violence in our community and how all of us can help survivors.

The coasters and posters prominently feature our new "TALK" graphic, an acronym designed to help patrons remember key steps in addressing intimate partner violence:

T – Tell the person being harmed you’ll help
A – Ask others in the area for help
L – Leave help the person being harmed leave
K – Keep Supporting the person being harmed

“We believe that everyone has a role to play in preventing violence,” said Abby Rowland, executive director of Saving Grace. “By partnering with local bars and restaurants, we’re bringing this conversation into the public space, where it can have a real impact. These coasters and posters are simple tools that can spark important discussions and help people recognize the signs of intimate partner violence.”

Meyer said, "The intent of this project is really for each community member to know that they can make a difference. There's the adage each one reach one we all can play a part in ending violence, and that's where we want to be empowering our community."

In just the first week of the program, participating establishments included:

Craft Kitchen and Brewery
Mountain Burger
Wikiup Station 
Vic's Bar and Grill
Basecamp Grill
Wetlands Taphouse
Big Belly Burgers and Brew
The Podski

Now it includes:

Participating venues receive the materials at no cost and will be listed on Saving Grace’s social media as Violence Prevention Partners. The program is designed to create a supportive environment where individuals can feel safe discussing IPV, whether they are seeking help or offering support to someone in need.

“We’re encouraging everyone—patrons, staff, and owners alike—to TALK about intimate partner violence. It’s a difficult subject, but by bringing it into the open, we can break the silence that too often surrounds this issue,” added Rowland.

Bars and restaurants interested in joining the program can sign up by contacting them directly at delanie.s@saving-grace.org.

About Saving Grace

Saving Grace is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing safety, hope, and healing to survivors of intimate partner violence, sexual assault and stalking. Through comprehensive support services, community education, and advocacy, we strive to create a violence-free community.