Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Domestic violence is a community issue. It is not only in our homes; it is in our schools, our hospitals, our churches, and our workplaces. Maybe you know someone who has been abused. Maybe it’s happened to you.

Each year during October–Domestic Violence Awareness Month–communities across the nation join together to recognize domestic violence as an issue and to honor the survivors with vigils, rallies, and other awareness-raising activities.

DVAM was first recognized in October of 1987—the same year the first national toll-free domestic violence hotline became available.For more information about the history of DVAM, please visit the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence’s website.

Spruce Run observes DVAM in a variety of ways each year, including our Library Campaign and the Clothesline Project.  Click here to check out what we did in 2009. Also in 2009 we premiered our Paint Penobscot County Purple Campaign, which asks the community to highlight purple–the color for domestic violence awareness–for a week in support of survivors. Individuals, businesses, hospitals, and other organizations from throughout Penobscot County responded with creativity and enthusiasm. We look forward to making this campaign an annual part of our DVAM activities. Check out the list of participating groups below–and stay tuned for news about DVAM 2010!

2009 Paint Penobscot County Purple Participants

The Grasshopper Shop (see picture at right)