Take Part: Art Activity Oct. 9 will Raise Awareness in Domestic Violence Month

From Legal Services of the Hudson Valley

Legal Services of the Hudson Valley and Victims Assistance Services (VAS) of WestCOP, Inc. are partnering to bring awareness to the issue of domestic violence. The organizations will host “The Clothesline Project” – a Domestic Violence Month activity which uses the visual arts to give victims and survivors of domestic violence a voice – at The Neighborhood Center, 840 Main Street, Peekskill, on Thursday, October 9, 2014, from 4:30-6:30 pm.

Honored guests will include Westchester County Deputy Executive Kevin Plunkett, Westchester County Legislator (District 1) John Testa, Westchester County Legislator (District 9) Catherine Borgia, Westchester County Legislator (District 4) Mike Kaplowitz, City of Peekskill Mayor Frank Catalina, and City of Peekskill Common Councilwoman Kathleen Talbot. This event, which will include a T-shirt making activity, is free and open to the general public. Staff members from domestic violence and other human or social service programs are encouraged to attend, to meet Legal Services of the Hudson Valley staff and learn more about its domestic violence services.

“We are proud to partner with WestCOP and its Victims Assistance Services (VAS) program in serving domestic violence survivors, positive impacting this growing area of need. Legal Services of the Hudson Valley provides free legal assistance to low-income victims of abuse, helping them to obtain Orders of Protection and representing them in a broad range of cases in order to hold abusers accountable, protect the safety of their families and ensure their financial stability,” said CEO Barbara Finkelstein.

In 2013, Legal Services of the Hudson Valley staff attorneys handled 1,156 cases relating to domestic violence and helped to obtain 451 Orders of Protection.

PHOTO: 2013 Peekskill domestic violence event/Courtesy Legal Services of the Hudson Valley