Main Street To Turn Purple In October

Purple is the designated color for domestic violence, and October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and Interagency of Lake Havasu will be dressing Main Street in purple to raise awareness of a very real societal problem.

“I wanted to create community awareness of the domestic violence problem,” Debbie Pennington, Educational Director for Interagency, told RiverScene. She was inspired by national organizations that are working to end domestic violence, and also the “Purple Light Nights” campaign. Cities all over America are increasingly putting up purple lights outside their homes to show support for victims of domestic violence, and Pennington decided to bring that campaign to Lake Havasu.

Jamie Streeter wraps purple lights around a tree on Main Street Thursday morning. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

On Sept. 22 and 23, Pennington will be out on Main Street with thousands of purple lights to string in the trees along McCulloch Blvd. from Pima Wash to Smoketree Avenue. Helping her will be students from the Lake Havasu High School and Thunderbolt Middle School, as well as Interagency’s CREW (Creating Restrictions Encouraging Winners) members, and other volunteers. The lights will be turned on every night through the end of October.

Pennington thanks the many organizations and individuals who donated strings of purple lights. David Jones donated 2,000 lights, and more were donated by the high school, Frontier Communications, Askland and Associates, Kind Connect Smoke Shop and Big Lots. Many others donated money to purchase lights, including Havacars, Joyce Parmley, Chris Aldridge, Jose Madera, Kim Rogers and Denise Baker.

Jose Madera wraps lights around a tree Thursday morning on Main Street. Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

A lot of planning went into this event, and Pennington thanks city officials Brian Allen and Mark Clark for giving permission to put up the purple lights, and Steve Van Ella for allowing the use of Springberg McAndrew Park.

Pennington invites residents to gather at Springberg McAndrew Park on Oct. 1, at 6:30 p.m. for the opening of the purple light event.

“Vice Mayor Don Callahan will be the speaker,” Pennington said, “and residents will be able to purchase purple lights to install on the outside of their homes to show their support for domestic violence victims. They can also buy tickets for the Domestic Violence Luncheon.”

The Domestic Violence Luncheon will be Oct. 3, at Shugrue’s Bridgeview Room.

The National Network to End Domestic Violence states on its website: “Domestic violence thrives when we are silent; but if we take a stand and work together, we can end domestic violence.”