Candlelight Vigils Focus Attention of Domestic Violence

Each October, to recognize Domestic
Violence Awareness Month, The Center for Women and Families of Eastern
Fairfield County holds candlelight vigils in our area to remember this year’s
victims and survivors.

In addition to the vigil in Monroe
Oct. 29, The Center has scheduled six additional vigils, all beginning at 6
p.m.:

·                
Oct. 2, University of Bridgeport,
244 University Ave., Bridgeport.

·                
Oct. 8, City Hall Annex, 999 Broad
St., Bridgeport.

·                
Oct. 9, Trumbull Library, 33 Quality
Street (next to town hall), Trumbull.

·                
Oct. 15, Stratford Town Hall, 2725
Main St., Stratford.

·                
Oct. 17, Easton Community Center
Gazebo, 364 Sport Hill Road, Easton.

“We hold the vigils at dusk, to
honor all victims of domestic abuse,” says Debra A. Greenwood, President &
CEO of The Center. “It’s a time to remember this year’s victims and survivors,
and a chance for those who are suffering to understand that we are here to help
them. It is our hope that the vigils will make victims strong enough to speak
to us privately and learn about our free and confidential services.”

This is the first year The Center
has been able to schedule a vigil in each of the towns we serve. All are free
and everyone is welcome to attend. Every 15 seconds a bell will be rung to
remind us that domestic abuse occurs every 15 seconds.

Each vigil will feature speakers,
including elected officials, and staff from The Center describing the services
they offer and the steps you or someone you know can take if he or she is a
victim of abuse. 

In addition, Trumbull will hold its
Clothesline Project the week leading up to its vigil. T-shirts with messages
and illustrations decorated by survivors or community members who wish to honor
victims and survivors will be hung from clotheslines on the library’s lawn
throughout the week. Residents can pick up a free T-shirt at the library. The
Project is sponsored by The Center, in partnership with the Trumbull Rotary,
Trumbull Library, Trumbull Cares and Trumbull Woman’s Club.

ABOUT THE CENTER FOR WOMEN AND
FAMILIES

The Center for Women and Families of
Eastern Fairfield County Inc. has been helping those in crisis for 116 years,
providing free, confidential, bilingual services to victims of domestic
violence, child abuse and sexual assault who live in Bridgeport, Easton,
Fairfield, Monroe, Stratford and Trumbull. Additionally, each year, The Center
teaches more than 7,000 children and teens about how to build healthy
relationships, the dangers of bullying and how to prevent dating violence;
answers more than 2,000 calls on its 24-hour crisis hotline; assists with the
civil and criminal court processes for more than 3,000 survivors of domestic
violence; responds to more than 300 survivors of sexual assault and their
families; provides a safe home for more than 100 women and children fleeing
domestic abuse; and coordinates the investigations of more than 100 cases of
child sexual and severe physical abuse, developing service plans for the young
survivors and their families. For more information, visit www.cwfefc.org.