Bergen County Vigil Will Mark Domestic Violence Awareness Month

PARAMUS, NJ — A Bergen County group that has helped people survive domestic violence for 50 years — with housing, counseling, and more — will hold its annual vigil Tuesday night.

The Center for Hope and Safety will host the Light Up the Night Against Domestic Violence candlelight vigil at 6:15 p.m. at Van Saun County Park in Paramus.

The event will take place near Parking Lot 4 at 216 Forest Ave. and is free and open to the community.

Spokesperson Nicole Doherty said the vigil is intended to memorialize victims, honor survivors, and bring the community together during Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

The evening will include survivors, families and community members gathering in remembrance at the Pathway to Self-Sufficiency Garden.

Bergen County survivors and family and friends of victims will share personal stories of survivorship, hope, healing and remembrance.

The vigil comes as Center for Hope & Safety marks 50 years of service in Bergen County. Founded in 1976, the group was formerly known as Shelter our Sisters.

The nonprofit helps adults and children rebuild their lives beyond domestic violence and offers free services including confidential safe housing, counseling, advocacy, legal services and creative arts therapy for children.

The group's director has told Patch that even someone who's not ready yet to leave an abusive situation, or who has a friend or relative in such a situation, can reach out to them to make a plan. (In an emergency call 911.)

More Than 5,000 Calls

The organization released figures from 2025 ahead of the event.

They said they had served more than 1,500 individuals and answered more than 5,000 calls to its 24/7 hotline last year.

The group's licensed Safe House provided shelter to 140 survivors, including 93 women and 47 children, while the Transitional Housing program served 20 adults and 17 children.

FBI data shows that more than 11,000 people were victims of murder involving domestic relationships in the United States between 2020 and 2024, according to the group

People who plan to attend the vigil can go directly to the park for the 6:15 p.m. start, according to Doherty. Registration is encouraged through the organization's event page here: hopeandsafetynj.org/light-up-the-night-against-domestic-violence/

The group's free, confidential hotline operates non-stop. Call (201) 944-9600.

For more information, go to https://www.hopeandsafetynj.org/.

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