Scene: North Texas Daily (Denton, Tex.), Vol. 91, No. 24, Ed. 1 Friday, October 6, 2006 Page: 2 of 28
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Scene / NT Da ly
News
October 6, 2006
Vigil raises awareness
of relationship violence
Pamela Bond / NT Daily
Councilmember Guy McElroy, District 4, reads a statement from Mayor
Perry McNeill proclaiming October as Relationship Violence Awareness
Month in Denton at Wednesday night's vigil outside the Courthouse
Museum on the Square.
Corrections
In the story "Anti-abortion rally
spurs controversy" on Tuesday's front
page, Tia Wells was identified incor-
rectly.
In a photo byline on Thursday's
Friends of the Family
hosts event, shares
stories of victims
ByJodie Hansen
Contributing Writer
To honor the 143 women killed
by their intimate partners in
Texas last year, Denton County
Friends of the Family held a
candle light vigil on the Square
Thursday night.
A red silhouette of each wom-
an was spread out beside the
Denton County Courthouse mu-
seum. A sign hung around the
neck of each silhouette, titled
"Remember Me" with the vic-
tim's name, age, hometown, date
of death and a summary of how
she was murdered by her spouse
or boyfriend. Four silhouettes
represented pregnant victims.
Almost 200 people attended
the vigil, titled "Remember Me
... 1 in 3," in reference to the
statistic that one in three women
will be domestically abused, ac-
cording to Friends of the Fam-
ily.
"All of you being here shows
me that what I do matters,"
said Tiffanie Coleman, commu-
nity education coordinator for
Denton Friends of the Family.
"You're here to speak for those
page 5, Michael Nye's name was
spelled incorrectly
The photos for "Campus Chat"
on Thursday's page 5 were taken by
Anthony Davila.
who can't speak for themselves
- thank you."
Councilmember Guy McElroy
of District 4 read a proclama-
tion from Mayor Perry McNeill,
which declared October Rela-
tionship Violence Awareness
Month in the city of Denton. Oc-
tober is nationally recognized as
Violence Awareness Month.
"My wife and I have been ac-
tive in spousal abuse awareness
in other states, so we are happy
and honored to be involved in
this event," McElroy said.
A poet who identified herself
as Victory recited a poem she
had written about domestic vio-
lence. Then, each name on the
list of 143 victims was called
out as volunteers with lit candles
propped up the corresponding
wooden cutout.
"We feel honored that we can
lend a helping hand to support
the cause of abused women,"
said Hunter Lancaster, Frisco
freshman, who volunteered at
the event.
The vigil ended with stories
from any survivors in attendance
who wished to speak out, three
of which did.
Friends of the Family provides
free counseling and protection
to victims of relationship vio-
lence and sexual assault, as well
as for the children involved, said
Joy Hesch, the business admin-
istrator of Friends of the Family
for the last 13 years.
"If we can save one life, it will
be worth it," Hesch said.
Hesch said the organization
started in 1980 with a small
group of people. She has seen
the nonprofit organization grow
extensively to 32 full and part-
time volunteers.
Hesch also said the group is
always looking for more volun-
teers. Internships in the coun-
seling department are also of-
fered for master's level students,
Hesch said.
"Many women leave [their
homes] in the middle of the night
with their children, and they
have nothing but the clothes on
their backs," Hesch said.
For these women and others
in immediate danger, the shelter
provides a place to stay and other
necessities, Hesch said.
Supplies come from the orga-
nization's thrift store, located at
1014 W. University Drive. Any
unused items are sold to the pub-
lic for a profit that goes toward
victim's needs. Donations of
clothing, furniture and funding
are welcomed.
For anyone who needs help
with a violent situation contact
the 24-hour crisis line at 940-
382-7273 or 1-800-572-4031.
Managing Editor Pamela
Bond contributed to this report.
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Scene: North Texas Daily (Denton, Tex.), Vol. 91, No. 24, Ed. 1 Friday, October 6, 2006, newspaper, October 6, 2006; Denton, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth145378/m1/2/: accessed May 7, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Special Collections.