October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Let's use October as a time to rally together to bring awareness to domestic violence and support survivors in our community. In collaboration with community partners, Alternatives to Violence has some interactive events planned for October to make it easy to help. Please call us at 970-669-5150 with any questions.

Saturday, October 2, 2021, at 11:00 a.m.: Paws and Reflect In-person Event

The community is invited to parade their pets in purple (the color symbolizing domestic violence) or in costume. The parade will start at the Loveland Library parking lot at 11:00 a.m. The parade will march around the Foote Lagoon to the Foote Lagoon Amphitheater, where Jacki Marsh, Mayor of Loveland will dedicate October to Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Pets are a big reason why domestic violence victims do not initially leave an abusive partner. Many shelters may not take pets, so victims are hesitant to leave pets behind out of fear that they will be abused.

Wednesday, October 13, 2021, 6:00 - 8:00 pm: Domestic Violence: Shining a Light in our Community

This in-person and simultaneous virtual event will begin with a brief description of domestic violence and how to recognize it, followed by a domestic violence survivor (to be announced) who will share their personal experience to shed light on the horrible realities of an abusive relationship, and will end with a panel of advocates from Alternatives to Violence who will answer questions from members of the community interested in learning how to identify or help someone who may be in a domestic violence situation. In-person will take place at Realities for Children, 308 E County Rd 30, Fort Collins, CO 80525.

Week of October 25-29: Don Your Purple Social Media Event

Facebook users will be asked to wear purple and share photos on either their personal Facebook page or on ATV’s Facebook page using the hashtag #ATVDVAM2021