For one night, people from different parts of Hunterdon County, from different walks of life and from different generations will all come together and take a visible stance against violence. What started as a grassroots movement in 2002 in Mercer County, now has become a statewide effort to raise public awareness about domestic violence.
Motivated by the very real problem of domestic violence in Hunterdon County, Women’s Crisis Services invites you to become involved in the Communities of Light program by participating in the lighting of luminaries on the evening of December 18th. Luminaries lining our streets and sidewalks will visibly demonstrate a gesture of support for those living among us who suffer, often silently, from domestic abuse. The success of the campaign depends on the support and participation of every member of our community. To this end, along with our sister towns of Lambertville, Stockton, Frenchtown, Clinton and Flemington we will be lighting the four corners of Sergeanstville that evening at 5:00pm. We hope that residents of Delaware Township will come to town that evening and help light the luminaries to show their support.
If you cannot be in town that night, we hope you can purchase a kit and light the candles at your own home. Designed as a key fundraising component of the campaign, the kits can be purchased at the Sergeanstville Grain & Feed, Bobbie’s Place, the General Store and Shop Rite. Each kit costs $10.00 and contains enough candles and white bags to make nine luminaries. 100% of the proceeds from the sale of each kit will be used to provide confidential services, at no charge, for women and children who are victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. These include such vital services as safe shelter, counseling, and legal advocacy.
Highlighting the importance of this campaign, last year alone, Women’s Crisis Services provided the following critical services to victims of domestic violence here in Hunterdon County.
• Shelter for 106 women and their children at the agency Safe House.
• 24 hour Hotline coverage of over 5900 calls.
• More than 1200 clients were served and supported by agency programs
• Close to 3000 hours of counseling were provided to children who have witnessed violence.
• Legal advocacy was provided to more than 480 clients.
Please consider participating in the lighting in Sergeantsville on December 18th or purchase a luminary kit. One more set of candles lit could motivate a frightened woman to seek necessary counseling or to bring herself or her children to the Women’s Crisis Services Safe house.
If your local business, civic organization, faith community or neighborhood is interested in volunteering in this effort to bring light to Hunterdon County.