Hartford-Area Nonprofit Marks Domestic Violence Awareness Month With Several Events

GREATER HARTFORD, CT — Interval House is marking Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October with a series of events across the Greater Hartford area aimed at supporting survivors, remembering victims, and raising awareness about intimate partner abuse.

This year's campaign, "Not Just a House," focuses on services that extend beyond emergency shelter, including assistance in courts, police departments, and the community as survivors seek safety and stability.

"Most people think of emergency shelter when they think of Interval House," President and CEO Mary-Jane Foster said. "But what you should know is that domestic violence creates a variety of challenges for victims that need to be addressed."

Interval House, founded in 1977, provides intervention services to victims in 24 Connecticut communities.

The organization's Domestic Violence Awareness Month events include:

• Jennifer Farber Dulos Memorial Walk to End Domestic Violence: Saturday, Oct. 3, 9 to 11 a.m. at Dunkin' Park, 1214 Main St., Hartford. Registration and family activities begin at 9 a.m., followed by a one-mile walk and program from 10 to 11 a.m. Adult registration is $25, team members are $10, and children participate for free. The event will be held rain or shine and is accessible to strollers, wheelchairs, and dogs.
• Shop for a Cause: Tuesday, Oct. 6, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Cotton Hollow Kitchen, 840 Main St., South Glastonbury. Local vendors will sell their work, with proceeds benefiting Interval House. Admission is free.
• Guest Bartender Night: Tuesday, Oct. 13, 5 to 6:30 p.m. at Café Aura, 45 E. Center St., Manchester. Foster, Heather Flannery, and Amanda Delaura will serve as guest bartenders, with donations and raffle proceeds benefiting Interval House.
• Purple Thursday: Thursday, Oct. 15. Residents are encouraged to wear purple to show support for ending domestic violence.
• A Night of Remembrance and Hope Candlelight Vigil: Thursday, Oct. 15, 5:30 to 7 p.m. at 740 Main St., East Hartford. The vigil will remember those who have died, recognize survivors and support people seeking safety.
• Sushi for a Cause Workshop: Wednesday, Oct. 21, 6 to 8 p.m. at Brignole Vineyards, 103 Hartford Ave., East Granby. Participants will learn to make sushi, with proceeds benefiting Interval House.
• "The Crash" Teen Dating Violence Panel: Tuesday, Oct. 27, 6 p.m. Interval House will hold a virtual discussion on Zoom about teen dating violence inspired by Netflix's "The Crash."
• Breakfast With Champions: Thursday, Oct. 29, 8 to 9:30 a.m. at The Riverview, 10 Winslow Place, Simsbury. Guest speaker Kim Dadou Brown will discuss her experience as a survivor who served 17 years in prison after killing her abuser in self-defense and her advocacy for New York's Survivor Justice Act. Attendance is free, but advance registration is required.

Interval House also offers community presentations on domestic violence and healthy relationships and provides educational materials for educators, parents and students.

"We all — government, advocates and neighbors — must commit resources and enact laws to protect families impacted by abuse," Foster said. "When we believe survivors and offer a helping hand, we give them a second chance at life."

Interval House operates a 24-hour domestic violence hotline at 860-838-8467.

For more information on Interval House, click on this link.