Help Stop Domestic Violence with Go Purple Day in West Texas

On October 19, the 5th annual "Go Purple Day" is an event to show unity against domestic violence in the Big Country. A ceremony will take place in downtown Abilene at the courthouse beginning at 9 a.m. Take a stand against domestic violence by showing up and wearing the color purple.

The Noah Project was founded in 1980 after a research team distributed surveys to area hospitals, law enforcement agencies, attorneys, and some social service organizations. That survey revealed a nasty truth about West Texas. Domestic violence was real, and nobody was addressing it.

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The ugly fact was there were over a thousand families that reported domestic violence in their homes within a six-month period. Shortly after this discovery was made, a single-family dwelling was converted into a makeshift protective shelter for the abused. By 1985 the shelter moved to another converted home on Grape Street in Abilene.

I recall getting involved with Noah Project's work by airing public service announcements and interviewing the wives of two Abilene police officers who were leading the way to help open doors on the organization.

In 1987, the Noah Project-North office opened in Haskell. By this time the Noah Project was serving 10 counties in West Texas. Those counties included Callahan, Eastland, Haskell, Knox, Jones, Shackelford, Stonewall, Stephens, Taylor, and Throckmorton.

Please help us continue to bring attention to domestic violence that is still unfortunately happening here in the Big Country. The Noah Project provides protection, care, and assistance to the victims of family violence, many of whom are children.

Wear the color purple and give what you can to help support the Noah Project of West Texas. If you are a victim of domestic violence or sexual abuse, please know you are not alone. Contact the Noah Project crisis line at 940.964.2551 or 800.444.3551.