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October is Domestic Violence Awareness month, and as a part of that, the Salvation Army Anew Center is handing out purple lights to local people and businesses to "paint the town purple" next month.
Lights began being handed out Wednesday. Linda Cecchetti, Anew Center Prevention Education team lead, said this year is an expansion on what the center did last year.
"We started this last year," Cecchetti said. "October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and that is what the Anew Center is all about, helping people that are in a domestic violence situation. Purple is the color for the month, like pink is the color for Breast Cancer Awareness, purple is the color for Domestic Violence Awareness."
The Anew Center partnered with Fidelis Care, which bought the agency some purple lights last year, and the center's team went up and down Third Street last year to hand out lights. People put them in their windows and turned them on at night for the month of October. On Wednesday, the Anew Center handed out more lights, so at night starting October 1 people will be able to see purple lights to bring attention to domestic violence awareness.
"The Anew Center is the only domestic violence center in Chautauqua County," Cecchetti said. "We need to bring awareness to people that are in domestic violence situations, and we need to bring awareness to domestic violence. We need people to ask, what are the purple lights about? We do have posters that are going in the windows with the purple lights to explain about painting the town purple. We are all about helping people that have been through a domestic violence situation, and we want to show our support."
While the lights have been handed out to businesses, Cecchetti said the purple lights are open to everyone. Anyone who wants to can put a set of purple lights in their windows. The places the center has handed out lights to has expanded since last year, to include businesses on Second Street this year, and the Realtors Association has also reached out to Cecchetti, meaning some residents will have purple lights as well. People can even stop by Walmart and get purple Halloween lights, Cecchetti said, and put those in their window or a big purple light on their porch.
"That shows solidarity and support for people who are domestic violence victims," Cecchetti said. "During October you see pink ribbons around, and most people know that pink is the color for Breast Cancer awareness, so we can share. Purple is the color for domestic violence; it shows solidarity and that we're here to help and that people who are in these situations have help and support from the community, which I think is very important."
Help is available for anyone who is in a domestic violence situation. People can reach out via the hotline number, which is available 24/7 for assistance at either 716-661-3897 or 1-800-252-3984. The facility is open 24/7.
"We are here in any way and capacity that we can help somebody, we will help them," Cecchetti said. "We have case management, we have advocates, we have the children and family outreach program."
Also in connection to Domestic Violence Awareness month, a candlelight vigil will be held at the Salvation Army church, 83 S. Main St., on October 29. The vigil is for people that have been lost to domestic violence and will run from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. It is open to families and the public and will include music, two pastors will say prayers, candles will be lit, there will be a moment of silence, and that will wrap up the month of October.