October is the time of flaming autumn colors, and leaves of russet, gold, and red. It is the season of relief, as summer stupor is blown away by cool fall breezes. It brings sweaters and scarves, football and pumpkins, Halloween and fall festivals.
Yet October is also designated as National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Throughout the month, the Domestic Abuse Resistance Team will hold fundraisers, awareness events and candlelight vigils. Hundreds of supporters, partners and friends will come alongside this organization to join them in their work to help keep families safe in our community.
The month will begin with a DQ Blizzard Day for DART on Oct. 5. All day long, one dollar will be donated to DART for any Blizzard sold at the Cooktown Rd DQ.
On Oct, 6, two major events will take place. The first will be the 19th Radiothon for DART. This event, the biggest fundraiser of the year, has been held at Super 1 Foods since 2002. It is broadcast live on Q94.1 FM, and runs from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Over 30 community partners will be interviewed throughout the day and will talk about why they believe that DART’s services are needed in the Lincoln Parish community.
Radiothon donations may be made online at www.dartla.org, by calling in a pledge to 318-513-9373, by sending a gift to DART at P.O. Box 1223, Ruston, 71273, or by dropping by Super 1. DART’s goal this year is $75,000. Part of this will be to replace the $29,000 in budget cuts DART has experienced this year. The rest will be used to cover items and needs not allowed by existing grants, such as maintenance to the security system, help for those who leave the shelter to set up new housekeeping free of their abuser, and to retain valuable and experienced staff members who work faithfully in difficult circumstances.
Also on Oct. 6, a jambalaya fundraiser will be held at Karl Malone Toyota on the North Service Road from 11-2. Tickets are $10, and all proceeds go to DART. Full and half pans may be ordered ahead of time by calling 318-255-1387. Any advance order of over 10 plates, including a half or full pan, is eligible for free delivery.
On Oct. 27, the Lincoln Parish Candlelight Vigil will be held at 6 p.m. at The Bridge Community Church downtown campus, located at 500 W. Georgia Ave. This hour-long service will honor lives lost to domestic violence in the community.
Finally, on Saturday, Oct. 29 at 11 a.m., the 8th Annual Walk a Mile event will be held by the sisters of Alpha Chi Omega Beta Psi. This sorority’s national philanthropy is domestic violence, and the Louisiana Tech chapter is incredibly active with DART. Walkers will gather at the Argent Pavilion behind the Thomas Assembly Center. What started as a simple walk with men wearing high heels has graduated to men wearing heels, bedazzled flip flops and nail polish – but also joined by women wearing men’s shoes, dogs sporting tutus, and family members dressing up in all manner of costumery. It is a fun, easy, family-friendly event to raise money and awareness for DART. For more information, call Philanthropy Chair Kylie Pepper at 903-452-8022.
Whether it is ice cream or radio interviews, candlelight vigils or silhouettes of lives lost, or a cheerful and enthusiastic walk for DART, October has something for everyone. Each event will help save lives, will support those who bravely leave to start anew, will shed light on a dark subject, and will help DART to continue its work to help keep families safe.
