FLORIDA WEEKLY: The Shelter announces Domestic Violence Awareness Month events

Special to Florida Weekly 

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) and The Shelter for Abused Women & Children is hosting a series of events designed to raise awareness and inspire action.

Upcoming events including the Paws for Peace, a gathering at Naples Botanical Garden; a public Candlelight Vigil at Cambier Park; the March to End Domestic Violence in Immokalee, and more.

Domestic violence affects one in four women in the U.S. However, more than a third of Americans have never talked about the issue. Our goal is to change that by raising awareness.

Raising Voices and Awareness: The Shelter for Abused Women & Children Leads Community in DVAM Events

One in four American women will experience domestic violence in her lifetime, according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. That’s more women than are affected by breast cancer, ovarian cancer and lung cancer combined. Still, more than one-third of Americans have never discussed the issue.

Throughout the month of October, The Shelter for Abused Women & Children is raising public awareness to end domestic violence with a variety of events as part of Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM). More details on these events are available at naplesshelter.org/dvam

Purple Thursdays: Wear purple every Thursday in October to raise awareness about domestic violence. Snap a selfie or a group shot and post it on your social media with #purplethursday and tag @TheShelterNaples.

The Clothesline Project: The Shelter’s Clothesline Project is a visual display of T-shirts embellished by survivors of domestic violence. The purpose of the project is to increase community awareness of the impact of violence and abuse and to honor each survivor’s strength. The shirts will be displayed at public awareness events throughout October.

Paws for Peace in the Garden – 8:30 to 11 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 5 at Naples Botanical Garden. Co-sponsored by the Humane Society of Naples and the Naples Botanical Garden, this event raises awareness for pet safety and the effects of domestic violence on family pets. Attendees must be accompanied by a dog to receive free admission discount for up to two adults, two dogs, and children from the same household. One dog permitted per adult. There will be free bandannas (while supplies last). Purple attire is encouraged but not required. All dogs must be current on shots and kept on non-retractable leashes.

Public Candlelight Vigil: 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 16, Cambier Park in Naples. The public is invited to join us as we remember those whose lives were taken by domestic violence in Collier County. The vigil will include luminaries, tea lights and a reading of the names of victims. Please join us in the northeast quadrant near the Veteran’s Memorial for this moving service.

The Shelter Options Shoppe Goes Purple: Saturday-Sunday, Oct. 18-19, The Shelter Options Shoppe, 968 2nd Ave. North in Naples. Every Options Shopper who wears purple will receive an additional 15% special discount. There will also be refreshments, giveaways, prize drawings and information on The Shelter for Abused Women & Children.