Domestic Violence Awareness Month 2024 was great success!

Chaired by The Shelter’s Prevention Services Supervisor Melinda Gamez, The Shelter’s National Domestic Violence Awareness Month activities were a great success in October.

The Collier County Clerk’s office was a wonderful community partner this year with several public displays of The Shelter’s Clothesline Project in the courthouse. The Clothesline Project features t-shirts created by survivors of domestic violence. Members of the Clerk’s Office also collected food items for The Shelter’s pantries.

The Shelter’s public events included Peaceful Paws in the Garden, Oct. 13, co-sponsored by the Botanical Garden and the Humane Society Naples. This event was well-attended and raised awareness for The Shelter’s pet kennels and the effects of domestic violence on family pets.

New to this year’s events was a public candlelight vigil on Oct. 16 at Cambier Park in downtown Naples. Members of The Shelter staff and the public gathered to remember lives taken by domestic violence. The service included a roll call of the names of Collier County residents who lost their lives to domestic violence. Attendees held posters bearing the names of those victims. The service ended with a moment of silence and prayer.

The Shelter Options Shoppe held “Options Goes Purple,” Oct. 19-20, with special discounts for all shoppers who wore purple. NOTE: The Shelter accepts donations of quality used clothing and furnishings, so your used items help provide services for survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking.

The Annual Children’s Peace Fair was well-attended on Oct. 21 at the Immokalee Sports Complex. This popular event featured activities, children’s games, food, entertainment, and information booths hosted by partner agencies in Immokalee.

Also new to this year’s events was the Immokalee Peace March, Oct. 28, starting at the Immokalee Zocalo and continuing down First Street. Despite threatening rainstorms, the march was well-attended by staff and residents, including a family that had recently experienced a near-death attack and shooting by their abuser. Participants carried awareness-raising signs as well as posters bearing the names of Collier County victims who lost their lives to domestic violence.