Safe Night Ministries will hold an interactive event March 14 at the Hardy Civic Center from 11 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.
According to Karen Bagwell, founder of the ministry, the event will include speakers, a light lunch, and an interactive experience where those who attend may take a walk in the footsteps of a domestic violence survivor – “In Her Shoes”.
“We are so excited about this event for our community. It is going to raise awareness of domestic violence victims for what they go through on a daily basis, the decisions they have to make for them and their children,” Bagwell said. “Basically, when you go into the experience, you will receive a card that tells you what your situation is as a domestic violence victim. You will have choices to make. As you make the choices, you’ll work your way through different stations, where you must make more choices that will affect you and your children. At the end of the experience, you will find out exactly what happened to you.”
Beginning at 11 a.m, Bagwell said the event will begin with two speakers who will share about their own experiences and the abuse and trauma they endured.
“They will also let everyone know what our ministry has been able to do for them. Our Office Manager, Jean Carter, will also speaking about court advocacy, and what all we do in that realm. She’ll also speak to the fact that when we weren’t here, the things that the women had to go through to actually get an order of protection.,” Bagwell said.
Advocates will also be on location for anyone who may have questions.
“At 12 o’clock, we plan to have a light lunch, sandwiches, pasta salad, and desserts,” Bagwell said.
Bagwell also emphasized the event is not just for women and that she encourages men and couples to attend and go through the interactive experience together.
If the event is well attended, Bagwell said it will be extended to accommodate those who are interested in attending.
“We do believe that is really going to open a few eyes. We get asked often. ‘Why doesn’t why don’t they just leave?’ And it’s kind of eye-opening when you go through it. And see, these are the options they had, not the one that you thought they should have picked. Because it wasn’t there. It wasn’t there for them,” Bagwell said.
For more information contact Safe Night Ministries at 870 955-5000.
Lauren is a an award-winning journalist who decided after 10 years of newspaper experience to venture out. Hallmark Times was born.
