The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

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October 10, 2009

A light in the window

Purple bulbs will ‘light the way’ for victims of domestic violence

Bev Davis

Purple candles will carry a silent message to increase awareness about domestic violence.

The West Virginia Coalition Against Domestic Violence is sponsoring a statewide campaign in which residents and businesses are asked to display the lights throughout the month.

Agencies have purchased electric candles, each with a purple flame, symbolizing the color used in the observance of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

“There is no cost for the candles. We are asking businesses and individuals to get them and display them in their windows throughout the month,” said Deanna O’Dell, a client advocate with the Beckley outreach office of the WRC.

She and other staff members have labeled the candles with information about the WRC and bearing the message, “Lighting the way to peace in our hearts, our homes and the world.”

On Thursday those with candles are asked to allow them to burn all night in honor of survivors of domestic violence and in memory of anyone who has lost a life to domestic violence.

O’Dell said the observance is also designed to help victims and their families find out about resources available to them.

“Many people still think all we can provide is a temporary shelter for someone who has fled from an abuser,” O”Dell said. “The fact is, we provide a whole range of service to help those victims find a way to get out of abusive situations and find a way to live in a safe environment.”

Services involve counseling, education, advocacy and referral to agencies that provide a variety of services.

The Women’s Resource Center has an outreach center in each of the four counties it serves — Raleigh, Fayette, Summers and Nicholas. Centers are located in Beckley, Fayetteville, Hinton and Summersville.

Educating people about domestic violence is a big part of the awareness campaign, O’Dell said.

“We try to help people understand that domestic violence can affect everyone. It’s not limited to any social class or culture. It can happen to anyone,” she said.

Neither is domestic violence limited to physical abuse.

“We are now seeing it’s not as much physical but emotional and financial and mental abuse,” O’Dell said.

About 5 percent of domestic abuse victims are elderly.

“Our main hope is that people who are living with abuse will find a way to contact us and get help,” she said. “We also encourage people to report suspected abuse. It could help save someone’s life.”

On Oct. 22, the WRC will sponsor its annual Candlelight Vigil from 6 to 8 p.m. at the John W. Eye Conference Center on the campus of Mountain State University in Beckley. Survivors will speak during the event.

“At 8 p.m., we will all carry our lighted candles from the conference center to the bell tower, where there will be a balloon release. Each balloon will contain the name of a person who has died because of domestic violence in our state this year,” O’Dell said.

Anyone who wants candles should call 304-255-2559 and request them.

— E-mail: bdavis@register-herald.com

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