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.

·        
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.

·        
Oct. 29, Monroe Green in front of
the Town Hall Gazebo, 7 Fan Hill Road, Monroe.

“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.