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If Not Us, Who? If Not Now, When?

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month so when you bring out your pink ribbons for Breast Cancer Awareness, don’t forget to wear your purple ones too! Like breast cancer, domestic violence is an issue that effects many women in our community. Sunrise Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Center will be holding several activities during the month of October to bring awareness to this important issue.
The Public Relations Committee at Sunrise has been working diligently the past few months in preparation to launch a new message campaign in October, “If Not Us, Who? If Not Now, When?” The campaign’s focus is to reach bystanders and encourage them to get involved in the mission to end domestic violence in our community. The group will be targeting friends, family members, and co-workers of victims and will provide them with information on how they can help. The committee members developed the bystander campaign after reviewing alarming statistics that were collected from the East Pasco County Fatality Review Team. For example, of the 17 domestic violence homicides the Team has reviewed since 2005, in over 65% of the cases, friends, family members, or co-workers knew that the victim was being abused. In order to reach bystanders, the group will be distributing a series of posters they created throughout the community. If you would like to support this effort by putting up a poster in your business or organization, please contact the Sunrise administration office at (352) 521-3358 or via e-mail at cbates@sunrisepasco.org.
Also, Sunrise will be holding their 14th Annual Candlelight Vigil to honor victims and survivors of domestic violence. This is a free event open to the public and will be held Thursday October 28th, 2010 from 6:00-7:30pm on the lawn of Florida Hospital Zephyrhills. The evening will include guest speakers, an awards ceremony, as well as the lighting on the candles.
We hope that community members will join us in the effort to create a safer community in which every home is a safe home free of violence and abuse.
For twenty eight years Sunrise of Pasco has provided services to adult and child victims of domestic and sexual violence in Pasco County. These services include emergency shelter, individual and group counseling, 24/7 hotline, legal advocacy, children’s programs which include individual and group counseling. If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence you can contact Sunrise at 352-521-3120 or the state wide toll free hotline at 1-800-500-1119. The toll free sexual assault hotline for West and Central Pasco is 1-888-668-7273. All Sunrise services are free of charge and confidential. Interpreter services will be provided for the hearing-impaired and limited English proficient.