Catholic Social Services launches 'Light it Up' campaign to raise domestic‑violence awareness, seeks mayor offices as distribution hubs

Leilani, program manager for the Alley Family Violence Shelter (Catholic Social Services), reintroduced shelter services to the council and urged village leaders to serve as community distribution points for a 'Light it Up' campaign to raise awareness of domestic violence and child abuse. She reported that in the past five years the organization sheltered 169 households (mostly women and children) and that stays often exceed the shelter’s intended emergency period; the presenter said average stays can be months and the longest stretch was two years, reflecting a shortage of affordable housing.

The campaign will use purple light bulbs to prompt conversations and publicize resources. Leilani asked mayors interested in acting as distribution sites to contact the shelter; she said distribution would begin the following week with a coordinated social‑media push and asked village offices to host pick‑up points and to help publicize the Jan. 31 lighting event at 6 p.m. She provided the shelter’s office number (648‑5888) and emphasized that 24‑hour hotline support is available. The shelter also requested that mayors share printed materials at village offices and invited further partnership for community outreach and referrals.