Communities of Light 2004 Launched in Princeton
By: NJ Devico 12/02/2004 - Pennington Post
A neighborhood representative may ask you to purchase a luminary kit and light a candle on December 19 for victims of domestic violence.
Four counties have united to raise awareness of domestic violence in central New Jersey. Womanspace, the Mercer County-based non-profit agency that offers crisis intervention and support services to victims of domestic and sexual assault, kicked off its third annual fundraising project, Communities of Light, in front of McCarter Theatre in Princeton last Tuesday evening.
Standing in the twilight, with a row of luminary candles at her feet, Mercer County co-chair Kristen Keller urged her audience to show support of an individual's right to live peacefully in the home. By purchasing a luminary kit from a neighborhood representative or retailer and lighting up every home and business, residents of Mercer, Somerset, Hunterdon and Middlesex Counties can show victims that they are not alone.
Last year 500 volunteers assembled and sold more than 6,500 luminary kits containing 40,000 candles to raise more than one hundred thousand dollars for Womanspace. "I never thought Communities of Light would be so successful," said Pat Hart, the agency's executive director. "It's wonderful to raise the money-that's a bonus. But this is about supporting the victims. It sends a message that the community is there for them, especially those who are afraid to reach out."
Ms. Hart introduced the directors of the Somerset and Middlesex agencies where victims of domestic abuse can go: Cathy Cummings, of Resource Center for Women & Their Families and Eve Hook of Women Aware. She then introduced honorary chair, Emily Mann, artistic director of McCarter Theatre and the 2004 recipient of the Womanspace Barbara Boggs Sigmund Award. As Mann spoke, a driver was struggling to exit the lot, because of the assembly. Someone in the audience said, "Maybe we should charge a toll." Mann jokingly responded, "It's a fundraising opportunity."
The funds are necessary. As Keller pointed out, "Domestic violence is non-discriminating."
"The impact of domestic violence is wide-ranging, throughout the United States, and the world," said Ms. Mann. She quoted recent sobering data: One third of American women are physically or sexually abused by their husbands or boyfriends at some point in their lives. 36% of the cases involve children. New Jersey incidents numbered 77,566 in 2003.
The four centers answered 18,000 hotline calls and domestic violence victim response team volunteers met 2,000 victims at local police departments. These services are free, stressed Mann. "The proceeds from Communities of Light ensure that no victim will ever be turned away. It's about changing hearts and minds," she said.
So, stop in at Cup of Joe or Pennington Quality Market in Pennington, or Failte, Inc. in Hopewell and purchase a luminary kit for ten dollars. Then light it on December 19. The rain date is December 26 or 31.
For information on volunteering as a street or area coordinator, as a distributor, or to coordinate luminary sales at your workplace, place of worship or community organization, call 394-0136 or visit www.womanspace.org.