GREEN COVE SPRINGS – The multi-colored T-shirts were hung neatly on a clothesline that stretched far too long at the Quigley House main office.

Each tee had hand-written messages that spoke of pain, survival and hope. But most of all, they spoke of anger.

One by one, they told a horrific tale of abuse. The reality of the Clothesline Project erased the splendor of their colorful dance created by a gentle breeze.

Officials and volunteers of the county's only dual-certified domestic violence and sexual assault center joined with the Clay County Sheriff's Office last week to remind the community of its resolve to end physical and sexual abuse. Quigley House offers temporary emergency shelter and a safe environment for men, women and children who face the challenges of starting over following an abusive relationship, and, unfortunately, the need for the services is growing.

"At Quigley house we work to build awareness of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, bullying and harassment," said CEO Jennifer Rodriguez. "Our mission is to educate, equip and empower individuals and families through community education and awareness events like today. We hope that people will understand the true nature of these crimes, and abandoned preconceptions and social norms of what they think abuse is."

According to Quigley:

• One in four women and one in seven men will suffer physical violence by their intimate partner during their lifetimes.

• A least one in six men have been sexually abused or assaulted.

• A majority of female victims of completed or attempted rape first experienced such victimization early in life. With 81.3% reporting that it first occurred before age 25.

• A majority of LGBTQ-identified college students experience sexual harassment or assault by the time they graduate.

The abused started their journey to recovery by expressing their feelings on T-shirts.

Each tee represents the courage to leave an abusive relationship; the struggle to become whole again; the courage to become a survivor instead of a victim; and, the defiant resolve to walk away.

Quigley House created its Clothesline Project as part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month in April. The colors of each shirt represent a specific abuse, with white tees epitomizing abuse that resulted in death.

Black shirts are from survivors who were left disabled by an attack or were assaulted because of a disability; orange is for survivors of physical assault or domestic abuse; red and pink are for survivors of rape or sexual assault; purple represents survivors who've been attacked for their sexual orientation; blue and green are survivors of incest and childhood abuse and gray and brown are for survivors of emotional, verbal and spiritual abuse.

Sheriff Michelle Cook said her agency will work tirelessly with other organizations until no new tees are hung on Quigley's clothesline.

"Our dedicated members, both sworn and civilian spend countless hours investigating and helping victims," Cook said. "The detectives and our special victims and Internet Crimes Against Children units have a job that is especially not easy to stomach. And our victims' advocates work everyday work countless hours to bring support to our victims.

"We must continue to work together to educate our community about sexual violence prevention, to support survivors and to speak out against harmful attitudes and actions."

Quigley's numbers are shocking. The agency said it received 1,112 calls at its crisis center last year. It also provided 43 sexual assault emergency crisis forensic examinations, a combined 9,905 nights of emergency shelter and assisted 218 survivors to get injunctions for protection.

"Our goal here today is to create awareness and educate our community while highlighting our relationships with our community partners so that if or when something happens, survivors know that they won't be hurt," Rodriguez said. "I want to walk away I want you to walk away knowing that if someone you know is experiencing domestic violence or sexual assaults, or if you have questions regarding people's behaviors or need resources you can reach our 24-hour hotline, 365 days a year, and we are here to help you in every way possible."

Quigley House's hotline number is (904) 284-0061.

For more information, visit quigleyhouse.org.