Iowa City nonprofit plans events for Domestic Violence Awareness Month

A volunteer organizes cans of food collected during the Domestic Violence Intervention Program’s 2021 Shop for Shelter event. (Submitted)

Volunteers participate in the Domestic Violence Intervention Program’s 2021 Shop for Shelter event. (Submitted)

Domestic Violence Intervention Program, based out of Iowa City, has announced several events for the month of October, which is national Domestic Violence Awareness month.

The program picks a theme each year for domestic violence awareness month that all the events are focused around. This year’s theme is “Inspiring Safety in our Communities.”

Alta Medea, director of community engagement for the Domestic Violence Intervention Program, said the theme this year is meant to encourage hope.

“We’re seeing the need of services per individual increasing, the need of funding increasing and the lethality increasing for folks. It’s very easy to get weighed down by the reality of what victim/survivors are up against. So, we’re trying to bring a little bit more light and hope,” Medea said.

Kickoff at Kinnick concession sales

The events start off during the Hawkeye football game against Michigan on Oct. 1. Representatives from the Domestic Violence Intervention Program will be at the game, selling refreshments at stand 16 to raise money to support survivors of domestic abuse. All tips and 10 percent of the total sales will go to survivors.

Inspiring safety on Facebook Live

On Oct. 7, the Domestic Violence Intervention Program will be going live on Facebook every hour between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. to talk about the purpose of the program and the work they do in the community.

Shop for shelter

The largest event during the month will be the Domestic Violence Intervention Program’s 16th annual Shop for Shelter event from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Oct. 15.

During that time, program representatives will be stationed at several grocery stores in the Iowa City area to solicit donations of items that are needed for the support of domestic violence survivors, such as hygiene items, household cleaning supplies and food.

The Domestic Violence Intervention Program is seeking volunteers for the Shop for Shelter event and for the kickoff event at Kinnick Stadium.

Wear purple day

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On Oct. 20, the community is invited to wear purple to support survivors of domestic violence. Purple is the national color used to represent survivors of domestic violence. Share photos in purple on social media that day with the hashtag #DVAM22.

Punk show to benefit DVIP

A Punk Rock show benefiting the Domestic Violence Intervention Program that was originally planned for June has been rescheduled for 7 p.m. Oct. 22. The show, staged at The James Theater, will feature four local bands covering songs by the Blasters, the Go-Gos, X and Social Distortion. Tickets can be purchased online for $22 and 100 percent of proceeds go to domestic violence victims and survivors.

“We are really excited to do that event with such local stars and really see the community come together and celebrate the work, the hard work that’s done, and raise much needed funds for victim/survivors,” Medea said.

Media displays at local libraries

Throughout the month, local libraries in the Domestic Violence Intervention Program’s coverage area will have displays that include books recommended by program staff as well as stickers and bookmarks with information about domestic violence.

Posters also will be on display featuring a story from a domestic violence victim, and a QR code that will allow library patrons to view a video of an actor telling the survivor’s story. Community members will be encouraged to share the ways they inspire safety on comment cards that will be incorporated in the displays.