Rumford Police Explorer Grace Boothby holds one of the T-shirts that will be presented at the seventh annual Walk to End Domestic Violence at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at Hosmer Field in Rumford. The message on the shirt is “Communities united to end domestic violence.” From left are Mexico Police Chief Roy Hodsdon, Boothby, Safe Voices’ youth advocate Diane Gallagher and Rumford Police Chief Stacy Carter. (Bruce Farrin/Rumford Falls Times)

RUMFORD — October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Recent events have made the issue of domestic violence, an issue that is not often seen in the public eye, visible. For every incident that appears in the news, hundreds more happen that never get reported.

Domestic Violence Awareness Month offers an opportunity for all of us to engage in the dialogue that needs to happen to create the cultural shift that will make it clear that domestic violence is unacceptable under any circumstance.

Employers, educators, healthcare providers, family and friends all have opportunities to take action in support of survivors.

The River Valley seventh annual Walk to End Domestic Violence will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 10.

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Rumford Police chief Stacy Carter said the walk will start at 5:30 p.m. from Hosmer Field.

“We will walk to the Island and back to Hosmer. We do have about 50 purple shirts for walkers. We are partnering with a group that walks on Wednesday’s group called Walk with the Doc,” he said.

Carter noted, “Anyone is welcome to join us and help send the message that Domestic Violence is not tolerated in our community.”

Everyone is encouraged to wear purple and decorate their homes and businesses with something purple to bring awareness all month long.

As the domestic violence resource center for Androscoggin, Franklin and Oxford counties, Safe Voices offers a comprehensive range of domestic violence services, including a 24-hour helpline, safety planning and court advocacy, community case management, emergency shelter, transitional housing, community education, prevention programming and a certified batterers intervention program.

You don’t have to be an expert on the issue to let people know that there is help available. Support is only a phone call away. If someone you know discloses that they are experiencing domestic violence, speaking up to offer information on services can make a huge impact on their ability to achieve safety and security.

Information about these events can be found at safevoices.org, or contact Kelley Glidden at kglidden@safevoices.org, or 795-6744 for more information.

If you or someone you know would like to speak to an advocate regarding domestic violence, please call Safe Voices’ 24-hour helpline at 1-800-559-2927.

bfarrin@sunmediagroup.net


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