October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

A small congregation gathered together and raised candles into the air on Tuesday night in remembrance of victims of domestic violence.

The vigil at the First Reformed Church was one of seven vigils scheduled around Middlesex County by the organization Women Aware for the month of October. October is recognized nationally as Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Women Aware is a nonprofit organization based in New Brunswick that assists and advocates for women and children who are in domestic abuse situations. It is the leading domestic abuse relief agency in Middlesex County. On Tuesday, rain moved the vigil into the church, where organizers talked about the rate of domestic violence in Middlesex County, and the efforts to curb it.

According to statistics provided by Women Aware, in the last year, the agency sheltered 200 women and children, and served close to 1,500 women and children in other programs.

Additionally, 5,560 calls were responded to on Women Aware's hotline, according to organizers.

Locally, 528 domestic abuse calls were responded to in the last year, said Sgt. Raymond Trigg of the New Brunswick Police Department. According to Women Aware, the agency has existing relationships with 13 police departments, including Rutgers University police, to assist with holding abuse offenders accountable.

Mayor James Cahill praised the work that Women Aware does, and said that the city and the agency are partners in sending the message that domestic violence is not accepted in New Brunswick.

"We are sending that message loud and clear," he said.

Cahill read a proclamation that declared the month of October to be a month of domestic violence awareness in New Brunswick, and said that city hall is to be lit up in purple lights, the color association with domestic violence awareness, for the month.

Patricia Teffenhart-Maikos, assistant executive director of Women Aware, said the organization just closed on a three-family house in Middlesex County that will house three families in transition from abusive situations.

The housing will be permanent for those families as long as they need to stay there, while getting their lives in order. Currently, Women Aware is seeking sponsors to assist in furnishing each apartment, Teffenhart-Maikos said.

The permanent housing concept for transitioning abuse victims is being used around the country, but it is brand new in New Jersey, with this three-family structure being the first of its kind in the state, she said.

Additional vigils will be held this month at the following locations:

• October 4: Middlesex Borough's Mountain View Park
• October 11: Plainsboro's Market Square
• October 15: South River's Dailey's Pond Park
• October 16: South Brunswick's Veterans Park
• October 17: Reformed Church of Highland Park
• October 24: Sayreville's Buchanan Waterfront Park

All vigils will begin at 6 p.m., with the exception of the October 15 date, which is to begin at 7 p.m., according to the organization.

For more information on Women Aware, visit www.womenaware.net.

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