Think Purple for October too!
October is also Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
Domestic violence is such a scary thing to me. Being a survivor of rape makes me know what it is like to be affected by violence, but to have that violence come from someone who is supposed love me is something I can’t imagine. To be scared to be in your own home, how awful! I know it must be sheer torture for someone to have to flee their home and run from the person they love or have to protect their children from this person.
Unfortunately, because people don’t want to think about Domestic Violence or Sexual Abuse, it gets pushed under the rug. Victims feel shamed instead of supported and don’t know where to turn. They also tend to blame themselves, because many stand in judgement of people in those situations. I see the reaction when my husband and I talk about what we do with Women For Hope and we say that we work with organizations like RAINN or the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. We see eyebrows raised, instant uncomfortablility and sometimes a blantent change of subject, as it to say…uh…don’t want to talk about that - time to go - and why do you help those people? And then people wonder why victims in violent households don’t get help. (this isn’t even mentioning the reactions I get when I say I am a rape survivor - but that is for another post.)
That being said, there are those who want to help, but don’t know how. Most areas have a crisis center or shelter who are always in need of items. They house women, men and children who are virtually homeless, because the place they should call home is a place of violence. Of course, you could donate money to help their cause, but dropping off a bag of shampoo, hair brushes, tooth paste, even toliet paper can make a difference. Maybe even send them a teddy bear for a sad boy or girl who has been hurt by one of his or her parents. For a list of crisis centers, check the NCADV site for your state coalition site. Once there, you should be able to find the shelter near you.
And wear a purple ribbon and when some asks you about it, say it is for Domestic Violence Awareness. The more people who talk about it, the more people will be accepting of those in the situation. Then, they might not be afraid to go get help.
‘Till next time….
Pam - www.womenforhope.com - In honor of Domestic Violence Awareness, we will be increasing our normal donation of 10% of the proceeds to NCADV to 15% for any purchase of domestic violence awareness jewelry during October.