The Poughkeepsie Journal
Shirts Aid Battered Women's Plight
By Alicia Amodeo
Poughkeepsie Journal
Wednesday, October 13, 2004 --
One shirt read: ''I am precious. I deserve to say goodbye
to the pain.'' Another urged: ''Ask for help. Don't be scared.''
These messages -- and hundreds of others -- were displayed Tuesday
in center court at the Poughkeepsie Galleria on colorful shirts bearing
words of encouragement, remembrance and healing.
The T-shirts were created by battered women -- or their
friends, family members or counselors -- as part of the
Clothesline Project, held in the area to recognize Domestic Violence Awareness
Month.
The idea was developed in Massachusetts in 1990 to help female victims
of violence cope with abuse, as well as provide a way to
commemorate friends and family who have died from or survived violent
acts.
''The purpose of the event is not only to raise awareness
on domestic violence, but also provide a nationwide network of support,''
said Judy Lombardi, executive director of the Grace Smith House in
Poughkeepsie.
Members of the Grace Smith House and Battered Women's Services, also
of Poughkeepsie, spent the day distributing information on
domestic violence and encouraged women to make shirts
in recognition of loved ones who have survived a violent crime.
''When you see a shirt, it's something tangible,''
Laura Kirstein of Battered Women's Services said, ''and shows
people it (domestic violence) is happening in the area.''
According to the Dutchess County district attorney's domestic violence
database, there were 4,567 reported incidents of domestic violence
in Dutchess in 2003. Children were present during 3,302 incidents.
Along with the shirt display, volunteers distributed to
passers-by pamphlets and fliers containing statistical information, workshops and
emergency phone numbers to help instill a
sense of awareness and outreach of the severity
of this issue in the Hudson Valley.
Mental, physical, sexual and emotional abuse was once
a taboo subject. Now, abused women and the
organizations that serve them are able to make
their voices heard through projects such as this.
''The significance of being able to display
shirts every year shows how far we've come in bringing
this issue to the public,'' Kirstein said.
Alicia Amodeo can be reached at aamodeo@poughkeepsiejournal.com
For information about domestic violence services, call Grace Smith House at 845-452-0908 or Battered Women's Services at 845-485-5550.
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