South Padre Island proclaims October 2025 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month and Breast Cancer Awareness Month

The South Padre Island City Council issued proclamations recognizing October 2025 as both Domestic Violence Awareness Month and National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Mayor Patrick McNulty read the breast-cancer proclamation and the council presented the domestic-violence proclamation. Sandy Perez, representing Friendship for Women, thanked the council and described the agency's services: "We serve women, children, and men at our agency. We've been established in 1977... We serve Lower Cameron County, and we assist survivors. We have a shelter." Perez provided a 24-hour hotline number: (956) 544-7412, and asked the community to consider donations for survivors who sometimes arrive with few belongings.

Cheryl Hill, president of Walk for Women, said the volunteer organization has supported women and families for 22 years and has provided more than $700,000 in financial assistance. Hill outlined upcoming fundraisers: a casino night on Oct. 10 and the Walk for Women on Oct. 12, and also mentioned a chili-cookoff fundraiser. She thanked city departments and volunteers for support.

The domestic-violence proclamation text presented at the meeting noted that Congress designated October as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month in 1989, and the breast-cancer proclamation called for community support and early detection efforts.

Council members approved the proclamations as part of the presentation agenda. The meeting also included several community announcements, including a National Night Out event on Oct. 7 at Island Baptist Church and a Sandcastle Days event the following weekend.