By Heather Niccoli, Staff Writer
The streets throughout Mercer County glowed last Monday night. There were white bags filled with sand and a candle that were lined up in municipalities and neighborhoods.
Womanspace of Mercer County had its 10th annual countywide event called Communities of Light Luminaries to help raise funds for the nonprofit and to make people aware of the organization, which helps women who are victim of domestic violence or sexual assault.
The nonprofit was selling luminary kits that came in a pack of six for $10, the proceeds of which went back to the organization. The kits contained votive candles and luminary white bags with assembly instructions. The kits were on sale at various retail locations throughout Mercer County.
”The Communities of Light event culminates during the Winter Solstice- the darkest time of the year shedding light and awareness on a dark subjectdomestic violence and demonstrating support for victims of domestic abuse who may feel isolated or are suffering in silence,” said Susan Klejst, director of development for the group.
More than 3,000 candles were lighted in Princeton, according to Ms. Klejst.
Most of the lights in Mercer County were at Princeton University, Princeton Shopping Center, Palmer Square and Nassau and Witherspoon streets. They also were at The Lawrenceville School, Main Street in Lawrence, the shops in Hamilton, City Hall in Trenton and the municipal buildings in Princeton, West Windsor, East Windsor, Ewing, Hopewell and Robbinsville.
”It was something I felt I wanted to do,” said Gay Huber, West Windsor deputy township clerk and Womanspace volunteer. “(It is) something that touched my heart.”
The nonprofit has helped more than 290,000 women, children and men since 1977, according to Ms. Klejst. Womanspace is the only nonprofit agency in Mercer County that serves victims and survivors of domestic violence.
For more information on Womanspace, visit www.womanspace.org.
