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 Knowledge Empowers Campaign and the Clothesline Project.  Click here to check out what are doing in 2010. In 2009 we premiered our Paint Penobscot County Purple Campaign, which asks the community to highlight purple–the color for domestic violence awareness–during the month of October in support of survivors. Individuals, businesses, hospitals, and other organizations from throughout Penobscot County responded with creativity and enthusiasm. We look forward to this year’s Paint Penobscot County Purple Campaign. Check out the list of 2009 participants below–and stay tuned for information about how people participated this year!

2009 Paint Penobscot County Purple Participants

The Grasshopper Shop (see picture at right)