Safe Passage, Inc.: Upcoming Evening Light Ceremonies Focus on Voices of Survivors

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Left, Janice Lamping of the Ripley County Community Foundation presents a $9800 check to Mary Mattingly, Community Outreach Director and Cari Kettman, Executive Director of Safe Passage. The grant was awarded by Hillenbrand, Inc., through their new Hillenbrand Partnership with Possibility community program, and will go toward empowering health and wellness for staff and clients at Safe Passage. Photo provided.

(Batesville, Ind.) - October is Domestic Violence Awareness month, and this year the focus is on highlighting voices of survivors and family members who have gained “Wisdom Within” their past experiences.

“We want to give an opportunity for that wisdom to shine a light on raising awareness, seeing the signs, taking action and building resiliency,” said Cari Kettman, Executive Director of Safe Passage.

Established 26 years ago, Safe Passage serves six counties: Ripley, Franklin, Ohio, Dearborn, Jefferson and Switzerland Counties. Free support services include shelter, transportation, legal advocacy, emergency hospital response, job and housing assistance, children’s programming, counseling, and life skills.

Locations are being secured in Versailles, Lawrenceburg and Madison for evening “Wisdom Within Light” ceremonies in late October. Check out Safe Passage social media posts for updates on time and location.

“Survivors will share their experience, and the message that everyone deserves to have a healthy, loving and respectful relationship, no matter what. We want to bring to light that there is a place of help, healing and hope for those survivors and their children,” said Kettman. Safe Passage has a 30-bed shelter in Batesville, and satellite offices in Versailles, Madison, Lawrenceburg and Brookville.

On average the local nonprofit serves 1300 survivors and their children a year through the shelter, toll-free helpline and non-residential programming. Last year, 3857 overnight stays at the shelter were provided for these survivors and their children. In addition to direct client support, Safe Passage offers Prevention programming, to stop the violence before it starts. Asset building for 2nd graders and healthy relationship programs are presented to older students throughout schools and youth organizations in the district.

In addition to the Light ceremonies, plans are underway to bring awareness to the issue of domestic and sexual violence during this month. Activities include:

• Signs and banners will be hung in each of our 6 counties in the district.
• Event table at Hispanic Festival Sept. 30 at Liberty Park, Batesville.
• Care gift bags distributed throughout district to law enforcement, courts, prosecutors and collaborative partners. These care bags include: panel information cards, tear away and fact sheets, appointment cards, and more.
• Oct. 19 is Wear Purple Day to support the survivors of domestic and sexual violence. Please take a photo and post on our social media. https://www.facebook.com/helphealinghope
• Safe Passage will participate as a vendor at Trunk or Treat Oct. 21 at RomWeber Marketplace. For more information about domestic or sexual violence go to www.safepassageinc.org, call or text 877-733-1990.

2022-23 major sponsors: Hillenbrand/Batesville, First Financial Bank, Agresta, Storms and O’Leary, Community-Church-Batesville, John A. Hillenbrand Foundation, William A. and Martha H. Hillenbrand

Foundation, Save the Date: Dec. 2: We Help. We Heal. We Hope. at Walhill Farms, Batesville. Tickets and online auction at http://bidpal.net/HHH2023