Mercer County Municipal Lighting Locations:
Princeton Township Municipal Building to Witherspoon Street
Nassau Street in Princeton
East Windsor Township Municipal Building
Ewing Township Municipal Building
Hamilton Township Municipal Building
Hightstown Municipal Building
Lawrence Township Municipal Building
Main Street in Lawrence
(Other Lighting Locations TBA)
2008 COMMUNITIES OF LIGHT PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - November 26, 2008
Press contact: Susan D. Klejst, Director of Development
Womanspace, Inc., 1212 Stuyvesant Ave, Trenton, NJ 08618
Phone: 609-394-0136
Fax: 609-396-1093
Email: sdk@womanspace.org
Our 2008 Honorary Chair:
Governor Jon S. Corzine
COMMUNITIES OF LIGHT™ EVENTS THROUGHOUT MERCER COUNTY Sunday, December 14, 2008, at dusk
Mercer County residents will light candles on Sunday, December 14, 2008, at dusk in support of Womanspace’s 7th annual Communities of Light (COL), the largest single project in Mercer County designed to benefit victims and survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. Since 2002 the lighting of luminaries throughout the county has been Womanspace’s unique way of increasing local awareness of services available and of the ongoing presence of domestic and sexual violence in the community.
Several domestic violence agencies join with Womanspace in this annual awareness event and fundraiser by selling luminary kits (containing votive candles, bags & instructions) and lighting the candles in public ceremonies at dusk on the Sunday during the winter solstice. Volunteers throughout the state coordinate participation within their neighborhoods, businesses, police stations, faith groups and community organizations to illuminate the night and send the message that “Peace Begins at Home.” Porches, walkways, driveways and sidewalks will be lit in a united message of hope.
Public lightings will take place at dusk on Sunday, December 14th, at the Municipal Buildings of Princeton Township, East Windsor Township, Ewing Township, Hamilton Township, Lawrence Township, and Hightstown. Lawrence will also light Main Street. This year volunteers will place luminaries extending from the Municipal Building to the top of Witherspoon Street, connecting Princeton Township to Princeton Borough. Womanspace volunteers will also illuminate Nassau Street, which has been a tradition since the beginning of Communities of Light in 2002. More township lighting locations will be announced, so please check www.womanspace.org for updates.
Each luminary kit costs $10 and includes supplies and safety instructions for assembling 6 luminary displays to cover 150 linear feet. All proceeds will support services for victims of domestic and sexual violence and their families, ensuring that no victim is ever turned away at their time of need. Kits are currently available at various retail locations throughout Mercer County: a full list of participating retailers is available at www.womanspace.org. Womanspace’s environmentally-friendly luminary kits were designed by Compass Healthcare Communications and assembled by J. Knipper & Company. Womanspace also receives support from corporate event sponsors Verizon; the Times of Trenton; the Jon S. Corzine Foundation; PNC Bank; Bristol-Myers Squibb; Multi Packaging Solutions; Janssen, L.P.; Sign-A-Rama of East Windsor; McCaffrey’s; and Lynn Blessing McDougall, Esq.
Founded 30 years ago, Womanspace Inc. is the only non-profit agency serving victims of domestic violence and sexual assault in Mercer County. Womanspace provides emergency services, housing, counseling, court advocacy, and legal assistance for victims, survivors and their families. If you are a victim of domestic violence or sexual assault, please call our 24-hour hotline at 609-394-9000 to speak with someone immediately. For more information or to donate to Womanspace please contact Susan D. Klejst, Director of Development, at (609) 394-0136 or at sdk@womanspace.org. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Susan Adams, Volunteer & Community Outreach Coordinator, at 609-394-0136 or at saa@womanspace.org.
Communities of Light™ Event Launch: Wednesday, October 29, 2008, at Drumthwacket
Official Lighting Event Date: Sunday, December 14, 2008
At dusk, statewide
Work with members of your neighborhood association, service organization, church, school or workplace to identify a specific area to display luminaries
Distribute forms and collect orders and money
Return orders and money to Municipal Coordinator or Womanspace
You may purchase luminary kits online (for $10, plus $4 shipping & handling - 1st class postage)
or pick them up at any of these retail locations ($10 each):
More Retail Locations to Come!
Please call 609-394-0136 if you would like to sell luminary kits at your store. Print the flyer of the 2008 Luminary Kit Locations.
