October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month!
Purple Light Nights
October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and Options Domestic & Sexual Violence Services is bringing awareness to our communities through several awareness and educational events. We invite community members to take action, prevent domestic violence, and support survivors. Options is excited to be hosting three tree lighting ceremonies this year to kick off Domestic Violence Awareness Month. These tree lightings will be held across Options’ 18-county service area:
Monday, October 3rd in Hill City at East City Park at 7 pm
Tuesday, October 4th in Hays at Union Pacific Park at 7 pm
Wednesday, October 5th in Colby at Fike Park at 7 pm
Options invites the community to show their support for survivors at these ceremonies.
Purple Light Nights
October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and Options Domestic & Sexual Violence Services is bringing awareness to our communities through several awareness and educational events. We invite community members to take action, prevent domestic violence, and support survivors. Options is excited to be hosting three tree lighting ceremonies this year to kick off Domestic Violence Awareness Month. These tree lightings will be held across Options’ 18-county service area:
Monday, October 3rd in Hill City at East City Park at 7 pm
Tuesday, October 4th in Hays at Union Pacific Park at 7 pm
Wednesday, October 5th in Colby at Fike Park at 7 pm
Options invites the community to show their support for survivors at these ceremonies.
Turn the Lights SalON!
Returning this year to Options’ Domestic Violence Awareness Month is Turn the Lights SalON! This is a competition between area salons to decorate their windows for the month of October. Salons will have the opportunity to participate in a special training for the CUT IT OUT® program. CUT IT OUT® builds awareness of domestic abuse through materials displayed in salons through the “Give the Power Back” initiative. Options is offering several free training opportunities throughout the month for any salon/spa professional or student, which gives them tools they need to recognize warning signs and safely refer clients to resources. Contact Options for more information about the training: 785-625-4202.
In Her Shoes
In Her Shoes is an interactive activity where participants can walk through a simulation of a survivor’s journey through an abusive relationship. Options is hosting In Her Shoes at the libraries in Hays, Hill City, Colby, and Atwood Kansas. This event is designed to give participants a direct view of the triumphs and struggles that many survivors face while experiencing abuse and recovering from it.
Options will host four In Her Shoes events throughout the month:
Tuesday, October 11th in Hays at the Hays Public Library from 5 pm – 8 pm
Monday, October 17th in Hill City at the Graham County Library from 2 pm – 5 pm
Thursday October 20th in Atwood at the Atwood Public Library from 5 pm – 7:30 pm
Friday, October 28th in Colby at the Pioneer Memorial Library from 9:30 am – 4:30 pm
These events contain sensitive and potentially graphic content; descriptions of domestic and sexual abuse, rape, and personal trauma are included. Discretion is advised.
Paint the Town Purple
Paint the Town Purple is an art therapy painting event to encourage community members to express themselves and their experiences. Options and Fort Hays State University Student Groups Arts for Social Change and the Criminal Justice Club will host a come-and-go event at Union Pacific Park in Downtown Hays, on Sunday, October 16th , from 2 pm – 6 pm. All supplies will be provided. The finished pieces will be combined into a larger work that will be on display at Fort Hays State University. Options will host a second Paint the Town Purple event on campus at Colby Community College on Friday, October 21st , from 9 am – 1 pm.
Options Domestic & Sexual Violence Services is a non-profit agency dedicated to providing options for help, hope, and healing to victims of violence and abuse. Options provides 24-hour services to 18 counties in Northwest Kansas; services are always provided free of charge, with complete confidentiality, and on a voluntary basis. Contact us: call 800-794-4624, text HOPE to 847411, or visit help4abuse.org.