October is one month of the year when nationally we recognize different group efforts through publicity and through wearing colors that represent the groups we are supporting.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and the color for domestic violence awareness is purple.

You will notice the purple ribbons on the stoplights down Main Street this month.

The Guardian Shelter for Battered Families, a non-profit project of Catholic Charities Inc., is the local program providing safety for the women and children of domestic violence and working to make our communities aware of the significance of the recognition.

President Obama’s recent proclamation nationally recognizing October as domestic violence month identifies that an average of three women per day lose their lives to domestic violence.

Domestic violence affects people regardless of their gender, age, sexual orientation, race or religion. Young women between the ages of 16-24 experience high rates of sexual assault, stalking and relationship violence.

One in five women will be assaulted while in college and 1 in 4 women will be a victim of domestic violence in their lifetime.

Vice President Joe Biden, who has pioneered legislation to bring about laws to protect victims, has begun a new initiative called 1is2Many that promotes men’s roles in ending violence against women.

With this in mind, we would like to appeal to the male population of Adams County to step forward and help us make every effort to learn how we can all talk to young adults and children about respectful relationships.

As a staff we will, in the coming days, gather information to share with the local churches, schools, Boy Scouts, sporting organizations, and others whose individual activities include interaction with the young males in our area providing information to them about boundaries, respecting others and healthy life styles.

Our goal is to reach organizations that will be willing to take simple lessons on how everyone can support violence-free relationships in our community through education.

Our organization, The Guardian Shelter for Battered Families, invites you, the community, to join us for a reception at 4:30 p.m. Oct. 25, at the St. Mary Family Life Center for an opportunity to provide you with more information about our program and the role you can play in education and eradication of this very devastating part of our society that affects so many.

We will also be honoring Ann Tillman for her years of continued support to our Domestic Violence Program, our resale shop The Guardian Collection Thrift Store, and our fundraising efforts.

Please contact us at 601-442-0142 for any questions regarding our reception on Oct. 25 or questions regarding our program serving the women and children of domestic violence.

 

Donna Miller is the program director of The Guardian Shelter.