Lighthouse activities to focus attention on domestic violence

Five hundred and one pairs of shoes fill the Lighthouse Shelter lawn, each decorated with a purple flag, to represent the 501 victims of domestic violence and sexual assault that were served by the Shelter during 2007.
(Geoff Rands/Democrat-News)

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"We're doing this today only, from 7 to 9, 11 to 1, and 4 to 6," said Executive Director Deb Wallace. "That way, we hit everyone going to work, on their lunch hour, and on their way home. It gives us the opportunity to get out and tell people what we're collecting the money for."

During the two hours of their early-morning collection session, the two four-person teams on the corner of Yerby Street and Odell Avenue and the corner of Miami Avenue and Arrow Street collected nearly $1,000.

A group of workers and volunteers at the Lighthouse Shelter pose in front of 501 pairs of shoes, before they leave to collect more donations around town as part of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. From left to right in the back row are volunteer Barb Wilson, Victim Advocate Debbie Allison, Executive Director Deb Wallace, Shelter Support Advocate Tammy Anderson, and Executive Assistant Deana Boerckel. In the front row, from left, are Case Manager Julie Barman and Children's Program Coordinator Tonya Jaeques. (Geoff Rands/Democrat-News)

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"One man gave me a hundred-dollar bill," said Shelter Support Advocate Tammy Anderson. "He opened his wallet and said, 'I've just got a hundred-dollar bill," as he was pulling out receipts and looking around for change. I told him it was okay, that he could come by after he got some change, and he just threw the bill in. I thought at first he was joking with me, that he'd put a one-dollar bill in, but, no."

"We want to thank the man in the blue truck" for that generous donation, said Tonya Jaeques, Children's Program coordinator.

"Some (donors) were victims we've had at the shelter. Their change will change the lives of others," said Wallace.

Other events planned to raise awareness of October's status as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month include a Speaker's Forum titled "In Their Shoes." The forum will be held at the Eckilson-Mabee Theater on the Missouri Valley College campus at 7 p.m. on Oct. 14.

"It's so we can stop sometimes and think about what it would be like to be a victim of domestic violence or sexual assault," Wallace said of the "In Their Shoes" title.

Besides Wallace, speakers at the forum will be state Rep. Joe Aull, D-Marshall, Saline County Presiding Commissioner Becky Plattner, Jennifer Canter of the Missouri Coalition against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault.

"This (month) gives us the opportunity to stop and remember people who have suffered and even lost their lives to domestic violence, as well as celebrate the advocates and volunteers who work day in and day out to make a change," Wallace said.

The second annual "Frightful Family Feast" will be held on Sunday, Oct. 26, at the Martin Community Center from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., combining observance of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month with a celebration of Halloween.

"It's a fun place to bring your family for lunch," said Wallace. A few of the dishes that will be served are "bat wings," "witch fingers" and a "graveyard toss," which is what they call the salad. "They might sound bad, but they are delicious," she added.

A Clothesline Project is also in the works, for which victims of domestic violence and sexual assault decorate t-shirts for a display.

"They put their thoughts and feelings on how it's affected their family and themselves" on their t-shirt, Wallace said. "We're still working to finalize how we'll do it," she added, as they have 501 shirts to display.

Not so difficult to display are the 501 pairs of shoes arranged on the Lighthouse Shelter's lawn, each with a purple flag next to them, which both represent the 501 victims served by the Shelter during 2007.

The Lighthouse Shelter has already served 530 victims so far this year.

The Lighthouse Shelter is the only shelter for victims of domestic violence in Saline County, said Wallace. "There are about 83 shelters in Missouri," she added, "which doesn't hold a candle to how many animal shelters we have."

Wallace clarified that they serve not only women and children, but men, too. "We're a shelter for victims of domestic violence," she summed simply.

Contact Geoff Rands at marshallreporter@socket.net