Domestic Violence Awareness Month observed

Saving Grace is raising awareness all month long in honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

In Madras, Saving Grace staff is kicking off the month with a lighting ceremony at 7pm Monday night.

The ceremony is in honor of “Purple Light Nights” and will be held at Sunshine Corner (5 th and D Street). Everyone is welcome to join the festivities and show their support for Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Purple lights will decorate downtown Madras all month long, thanks to a sponsorship from Mountain View Hospital.

In Bend, Saving Grace is thrilled to announce its partnership with the Old Mill District for the month of October and Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Purple is the color of hope and can be seen all over the Old Mill District this month. Purple flags decorate the footbridges and purple lights are on the trees in the Old Mill’s center plaza to show support for victims and survivors of domestic violence.

Many of the stores at the Old Mill Distinct have also shown their support with purple lights in their windows and purple ribbons at their cash registers. Thank you to Desperado, Saxon’s Fine Jewelry, Mio Sushi, Jimmy John’s, Bath and Body Works, American Eagle, Claire’s Boutique, Strictly Organic, Ginger’s Kitchenware, Tumalo Art Co. and Sweet Tooth Candy Shoppe. Together as a community we can take a stance against domestic violence, showing our community it is not tolerated here in Central Oregon.

Also, Cuppa Yo in Bend is sponsoring Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) with a special flavor of the month. The purple frozen yogurt will be dedicated to DVAM and raising awareness all month long in Central Oregon. We encourage everyone to visit Cuppa Yo for some purple frozen yogurt. They will also have purple ribbons and glow sticks at their register for folks to take and wear in support of the month.

In Prineville, purple lights are found decorating the trees at the Crook County Courthouse and City Hall in honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Here is some brief history on DVAM;

Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) evolved from the “Day of Unity” held in October 1981 and conceived by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. The intent was to connect advocates across the nation who were working to end violence against women and their children. The Day of Unity soon became an entire week devoted to a range of activities conducted at the local, state, and national level. The activities conducted were as varied and diverse as the program sponsors but had common themes:

-Mourning those who have died because of domestic violence
-Celebrating those who have survived
-Connecting those who work to end violence

These three themes remain a key focus of DVAM events today. In October 1987, the first Domestic Violence Awareness Month was observed. That same year marks the initiation of the first national domestic violence toll-free hotline. In 1989, the U.S. Congress passed Public Law 101-112 designating October of that year as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Such legislation has passed every year since with NCADV providing key leadership in this effort. Each year, the Day of Unity is celebrated the first Monday of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Saving Grace provides confidential and free family violence and sexual assault services and promotes the value of life without violence. For more information visit www.saving-grace.org or contact Lauren Biskind at 541-382-9227.