"Light Up" Event Held at Quanada Tuesday Night

QUINCY, Ill. (WGEM) -

Some front porches along Quincy's Maine Street are lit up in purple tonight. The idea is to get you thinking about people who are living a life of abuse. The Purple Light Night also commemorates October, which is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Purple lights glow in the front yard of Quanada in Quincy - and while the bulbs might be pretty to look at, the issue they represent is much darker. Quanada representatives say that one in four women in America will experience domestic violence at some point in their lifetime,

In addition to the lights that glittered on the sidewalk and bushes, little posters representing domestic violence victims covered the front lawn - and not all of them are women.

"There are men that are serviced by Quanada as well, it's family violence, domestic violence, and there are men that are victimized in that way," says board member Bob Morwell. He says the campaign is for all victims - women, men, children and the elderly. Quanada executive director Megan Dusterhaus says the other purpose is to make sure the issue is at the forefront of your mind.

"After forty years of working to end violence, it can start to seem like - you know - we've done a lot of work and we've done a lot of good, and it's easy to get complacent," she said.

Dusterhaus says hundreds of domestic violence victims lose their lives at the hands of their abusers, and she hopes current victims will see the purple lights and found strength.

"I hope it gives them hope, and I hope it lets them know that there are people that care and that are willing to speak out," she says.

Quanada and the YWCA Quincy provide services for domestic abuse victims. Quanada offers counseling, legal andmedical advocacy, and emergency shelter. The YWCA offers supportive housing, financial literacy, racial justice, and youth development programs.

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"Light Up" Event Held at Quanada Tuesday Night