You may have noticed purple ribbons around downtown Geneva. Staff members from Family Counseling Service of the Finger Lakes and Safe Harbors of the Finger Lakes spent part of Tuesday morning handing out flyers and tying purple ribbons around downtown Geneva.
“Purple is the color of domestic violence, the color chosen for domestic violence awareness," according to Marisa Rube, executive director of Safe Harbors of the Finger Lakes. "So, we wanted to be sure that people in the Geneva area are aware of what’s going on. Both agencies staffs were out in the community talking with people, passing out information to the businesses about the services that we provide for victims or witnesses of domestic violence”
The two organizations provide a wide variety of advocacy and support services for victims of domestic violence. Their resources are also available for families, friends and co-workers who may suspect somebody that they know is experiencing domestic violence.
"People might know that something is going on," says Rube. "They feel in their gut that something is going on. They try and get that person to talk about it and they don’t want to talk about it or they make excuses. The best thing that you can do is let that person know that you are always there if they want to talk. Maybe you can find some resources for them and give that person the resources. It takes the average woman seven to eight times to leave a domestic violence relationship. So, it’s not always going to happen right when the first incident happens. There is a process that that person has to go through and the more that they know there is support out there for them, the more likely they are to reach out when they are ready.”
Both organizations offer hotlines. Family Counseling Service of the Finger Lakes is at 800-695-0390. Safe Harbors of the Finger Lakes is at 800-247-7273 in Seneca and Ontario Counties and 315-536-2897 in Yates County.
