COMMUNITIES OF LIGHT: Votive candles cover the steps of the Nassau Presbyterian Church during last year’s community-wide lighting in support of victim-survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. Sponsored by Womanspace, the event will take place this year on December 3 and 4. (Photo courtesy of Womanspace)

By Donald Gilpin

Thousands of votive candles will be lighting homes, streets, businesses, and municipal buildings on the nights of December 3 and 4, sending a message of support and solidarity to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in Mercer County.

“Flickering lights throughout Mercer County reflect that we’re here for our survivors, that they’re not alone, and that we support them,” said Womanspace President and CEO Nathalie Nelson. “It’s also to raise awareness, bringing domestic violence and sexual assault out of the darkness and into the light.”

Nelson pointed out that the numbers of victims are increasing, with Womanspace, which is sponsoring this 22nd annual Communities of Light event, having answered 6,777 calls for help so far this year. 

“Even though that number might seem high, we know that there are a lot of victims we’re still not getting to,” Nelson added. “That’s why our main goal is to continue to raise awareness and to let people know that we are here. We’re also educating people, alerting people who are afraid to ask for help, so that they know that we’re here and they can come out for help.”

Womanspace, headquartered on Brunswick Avenue in Lawrence Township, runs three hotlines, including a New Jersey statewide hotline for domestic violence and two Mercer County hotlines, one for domestic violence and one for sexual assault. There is also a text hotline and a chat button on their website. 

A Womanspace advocate answers the call, assesses the situation, and provides the caller with needed resources, including instructions for getting to safety and information for access to health services. An advocate will also respond to calls from the police departments, sheriff’s office, and hospitals and will meet the victim-survivor to provide help and support where needed. 

“We help everyone,” said Nelson, “whoever needs help, we do not turn them away — male, female, LGBTQ — we help them. Whoever needs help can call us. We’re here.” Help provided by Womanspace might also include counseling and emergency housing in a confidential location.

“There’s a role for everyone to play!” states the womanspace.org website, urging Mercer County residents to illuminate their homes and let the community know that they stand with victim-survivors; to coordinate with neighbors or employers to amplify the message of support and hope; and to donate to Womanspace to ensure that no one will ever be turned away when they need help.

Communities of Light luminary kits, each with six votive candles and white paper bags, are available for sale for $10 at Womanspace offices at 1530 Brunswick Avenue in Lawrence Township and at the following retailers: Barn Picks & Stuff, BHHS/Fox & Roach Realtors in Princeton and Princeton Junction, Dandelion Wishes, Keller Williams Premier in Robbinsville, McCaffrey’s in Princeton and West Windsor, Pennington Quality Market, and at Terhune Orchards. Proceeds from the sales will help to fund services for the victims.

Throughout the country there have been 568 gun-related domestic violence fatalities this year, with about 20,000 calls placed every day to domestic violence hotlines, and 10 million people a year physically abused by an intimate partner, according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV). Also, 20 percent of women in the United States have been raped, and in New Jersey, NCADV reported that one in three women and one in four men have experienced some form of physical violence by an intimate partner.

Womanspace was created through the collaboration of more than 50 local organizations more than 45 years ago, in 1977, under the leadership of Barbara Boggs Sigmund, who was then a Mercer County freeholder, and later Princeton Borough mayor.

“Communities of Light serves as a reminder to victims that they are not alone, that there are people who care,” said Nelson. “Moreover Communities of Light empowers us all to act. It serves as a call to action and to educate ourselves about domestic violence and sexual assault. We can help to break the silence.”

The community-wide lightings, on December 3 in homes and neighborhoods and on December 4 at businesses and municipal buildings, culminate a month of  awareness raising and action to shine a light on domestic violence and sexual assault.