Events to highlight Domestic Violence Awareness

Sept. 28--GREENSBURG -- Two local domestic violence service providers are teaming up to present activities to bring attention to the issue and highlight available services.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness month, often represented with purple signage, ribbons, and decorations, as purple is the designated domestic violence awareness color. Local high school football games in Batesville and Greensburg will be part of the month's focus.

Safe Passage is located in Batesville and provides both sexual and domestic violence support services for Ripley, Dearborn, Ohio, Switzerland, Jefferson, and Franklin counties.

New Directions, located in Greensburg, provides sexual and domestic violence support services in Decatur County.

"Both organizations are cheering on their community for the sport of football and for the awareness of the issue of domestic violence," said New Directions Victims' Advocate Leslie Straight.

During today's Batesville vs Greensburg game in Batesville and the Oct. 5 Greensburg vs East Central game in Greensburg, Safe Passage and New Directions are working together to defeat domestic violence. Fans of both teams have been invited to join them.

Cheer teams on both sides will wear purple hair ribbons. Straight said team coaches have agreed to wear purple stickers. Purple ribbon stickers will be distributed to guests at the games. While engaging with the crowd, both cheer teams will have purple mini footballs and beach balls bearing the purple ribbon symbol to toss to fans. Tables and signs for both organizations with more information will also be available at both games.

During today's game, messages created by the local Safe Passage Teen Council will be shared prior to the start of the gridiron contest. The teen council will wear purple shirts and have a "purple" face painting table. The Batesville High School cheer section's theme is "white out" and several students are expected to come decked out in purple to help raise domestic violence awareness.

At the Greensburg game Oct. 5, the New Direction's Teen Council and volunteers will be dressed in purple. They will challenge guests to the "Purple Polis Craze" and plan to share parts of their "Purple Pumpkin Patch." Special messages and cheer section spirit activities are also in the works, Straight said.

Raising awareness of domestic violence is only half the battle, however. Both New Directions and Safe Passage work to educate the community about the intricacies of domestic violence and the many forms it can take. Counseling for victims and preventative education are also vital parts of what both organizations do.

"Please join your community in raising awareness for the problem of domestic violence and be part of the change to create happier and healthier communities," Straight said.

For more information about Safe Passage, contact Mary Mattingly at mmattingly@safepassageinc.org or 812-212-1274.

For more information about New Directions, contact Leslie Straight at ndirect4@etczone.com or 812-662-8223.

Contact: Amanda Browning 812-663-3111x7004; amanda.browning@greensburgdailynews.com

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