In 2013, Womanspace, which offers counseling and support services throughout Mercer County when a woman has experienced domestic violence and sexual assault, told NBC Television that one of these acts is committed every seven minutes in New Jersey.
It starts, often, with ugly words. An angry slap across the face, a shove. It escalates from there. Sometimes the police are called. Sometimes not.
No part of domestic violence is pretty. But the least pretty fact is that police in New Jersey responded to more than 70,000 reports of domestic violence annually over the past few years.
Three-quarters of the time, the people on the receiving end of the violence were women; in 15 percent of the calls, a dating relationship was involved.
In 2013, Womanspace, which offers counseling and support services throughout Mercer County when a woman has experienced domestic violence and sexual assault, told NBC Television that one of these acts is committed every seven minutes in New Jersey.
The East Windsor Municipal Building will glow with luminarias on Monday night, as the nonprofit organization holds its annual "Communities of Light" to focus attention on just how widespread the incidence of domestic violence is.
At dusk that day, hundreds of people are expected to light thousands of candles to send a powerful statement to those who struggle with violence in their homes: You are not alone. Help is available.
This is the 14th year Womanspace has organized the event, which reflects the efforts of more than 200 volunteers who sell, distribute and display the luminary kits to friends, neighbors and colleagues.
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Participants can also buy the kits for $10 each at a dozen local business establishments, including retail stores, clinics, yoga studios and real estate offices.
They're also available from the East Windsor and West Windsor police departments and municipal buildings.
All proceeds from the sales go to Womanspace programs.Last year, the organization offered a helping hand to more than 11,200 women, children and men, including many who reached out to its 24/7 crisis hotline.
The groups also recruits and trains volunteers to work with the police as part of area Domestic Violence Victim Response Teams. Participants undergo a rigorous 80-hour process to prepare them to meet with victims at police stations to provide information and support when it's so vitally needed.
It's appropriate that Communities of Light takes place in December, which coincides with the coldest, darkest nights of the year.
It can sure feel like that for those who live in fear of the next blow, the next raised hand behind the raised voice.It can feel like there's no way out of the void, but organizations like Womanspace are working hard to provide that path, and for that we're grateful.