In observance of Crime Victims’ Rights Week, April 2-8, the Daily Press will be publishing a series of editorials authored by local agencies that support local crime victims.

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“Strength, Resilience, Justice” is the 2017 National Crime Victim’s Rights week theme. The theme focuses on a strong response to the crime, giving victims the capacity to recover, and holding criminals accountable.

One in two people will be impacted by a crash involving alcohol or drugs in their lifetime. Mothers Against Drunk Driving serves one new victim every eleven seconds nationwide. MADD victim services provide support and information to people who have been injured or have had a loved one killed in an alcohol or drug-related crash. MADD has literature and support is available at no cost not only for the person who has been injured in a crash but for those in their circle of support to help them learn how to best cope with the changes and how to help the person that they care about. We offer these resources to friends, family, and neighbors whose lives have been touched by the crash. Whether you are family or friend, acquaintance or co-worker, we will help you. We are here to listen and provide support.

The MADD Michigan Victim Memorial Boards will be on display at Bay de Noc Community College in the cafeteria on April 3 and 4.

The display was created to honor and remember loved ones who have been injured and killed in Michigan in impaired driving crashes. Hundreds of photographs have been donated, to honor and remember, and in hope to help create a better future.

MADD has trained volunteers, men and women of all ages, and staff serving all of Michigan. If you would like to volunteer or talk about how you obtain support and services through MADD, please call Betsy Harris at 906-474-9346 or email betsy.harris@madd.org. For more information about how you can get involved, please visit www.madd.org/mi