Sharlene Harrison-Hinds
Special to The Standard
Do you know what hides in the dark and nobody talks about? Domestic violence. It doesn’t just live in the dark – it thrives in the dark. This is what Purple Light Nights is all about – shining a light on this far-reaching problem that affects people no matter what their gender, age, economic situation or ethnicity.
Throughout October, you’ll see purple popping up all over Hope—in store and office windows and doorways; Memorial Park, the RCMP detachment, District Hall, other organizations in our community and residents’ homes. It’s all to show support for Purple Lights of Hope, the group that wants everyone to shine a light on domestic violence.
With a mandate to provide help for the victims and their families, Purple Light Nights is helping to change the outcomes and equally important, change the way our society thinks about and reacts to this often unspoken, but huge problem. The various supporting organizations provide resources to help victims escape, heal and find new lives free of domestic violence.
For the first time ever, Purple Lights of Hope is having a contest for the best purple displays in our town. Homes, businesses and organizations can demonstrate their support in fun and colourful ways—by decorating their locations with purple. Ribbons, bows, lights, merchandise —- anything goes so long as it is purple. The more purple, the merrier, to show everyone that you want to make sure domestic violence is not welcome in our community.
On Oct. 23, we encourage everyone to put on some purple for Wear Purple Day. Why wear purple? To show everyone that you want to make sure domestic violence is not welcome in our community. Purple Lights is a resource for anyone who wants to help victims and their families.
READ MORE: Hope shines a light on domestic violence
We’ll be taking photos of the purple displays at the end of October and share them with you on our facebook page.
The theme for this year’s campaign, “I have a voice!” is a simple concept: If you see something or know something about a case of domestic violence – say something, do something. We must all remember that if we allow it to lurk in the shadows, the effect on victims, their families and friends and the entire community will keep causing ripples of damage and pain.
If you take a stroll through town and spot a purple display, snap a photo and share it on our facebook page. The pictures will show everyone that we are collectively shining a light on domestic violence. Judging will be at the end of the month. Three winners will be recognized and awarded for their public commitment to the well-being of our community.
Let’s all paint the town purple with pride and determination and bring domestic violence into the spotlight and let victims know that we hear them, we see them and we will support them. For more information, call 604-869-7770.