Every October, the Child & Family Center’s headquarters becomes a gathering place for unity, support and encouragement during its annual 5K Purple Walk, an event honoring survivors of domestic violence.
On Saturday, more than 300 people were expected to take part in the walk, which aims to raise awareness of domestic violence and promote a safer, healthier community for survivors and children impacted by abuse.
People of all ages filled the organization’s parking lot, dressed in purple shirts, tutus and other accessories in recognition of the color traditionally associated with domestic violence awareness. For many, Saturday’s walk marked their first time participating in the annual event.
The support from the community was something that filled Child & Family Center CEO Nikki Buckstead with gratitude because “this work is chronically underfunded in the state of California. Domestic Violence programs never have enough money to be able to do what it is that they need to do,” she said. “But the mission of Child & Family Center and all of the other domestic violence programs that are out there, we remain committed.”
The local organization is the only one that has a domestic violence center within the entire Santa Clarita Valley and provides emergency shelter for those in dangerous situations, a 24-hour hotline, counseling, and legal advocacy free of charge. To continue to do so, the Purple Walk also serves as a fundraiser for those programs.
Before participants were set to begin the 5K, local SCV Rotary Club served a pancake breakfast and city of Santa Clarita Mayor Pro Tem Patsy Ayala delivered a proclamation to make the month of October domestic violence awareness month. Survivor stories were also shared.
Cristy Collins-Parker, the organization’s secretary chair of external affairs committee who also served as chair of the event, delivered her remarks.
“Today we walk to raise awareness and really to make sure that when somebody reaches out for help, that help is here and there is someone always here,” she said. “You don’t have to do this alone.”
Collins-Parker added, “Whatever brought you guys here today, we really appreciate it and we thank you for helping make all of this possible.”
