Domestic Violence Awareness Month
First observed in October 1981 as a national “Day of Unity,” Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) is held each October as a way to unite advocates across the nation in their efforts to end domestic violence. Communities and advocacy organizations across the country connect with the public and one another throughout the month to raise awareness about the signs of abuse and ways to stop it, and to uplift survivor stories and provide additional resources to leaders and policymakers. Each October the Domestic Violence Center of Chester County engages in several, countywide, grassroots outreach efforts to increase awareness.
Starting as a community effort in Schuylkill Township in 2021, DVCCC has expanded our Light the Night for Hope & Healing awareness effort and event, countywide! Our purple lights – decorating trees, gazebos, and historic buildings across the county – glow throughout the month to not only remember those we have lost to domestic violence in Chester County, but to shine as a beacon of hope to those who still may be living with abuse: you are not alone.
On October 7th at 6:45 PM, you’re invited to join our annual, countywide Light the Night for Hope & Healing event as part of our Domestic Violence Awareness Month efforts – and this year, we are doing things a little differently!
While there will still be a couple of speakers at each location, the heart of the evening will be an interactive experience:
- At Coatesville & West Chester’s events, participants will be invited to decorate luminary bags with messages of hope, healing, or remembrance and place a glowing purple tea light inside.
- At Phoenixville & Kennett Square’s events, participants will be invited to write messages on wildflower-seeded dove ornaments and hang them from our community trees as a living tribute.
Please wear your purple, make signs, raise your voices, and we have purple glow sticks ready for you to help us as we
Light the Night for Hope & Healing!
West Chester – The Historic Courthouse, 2 N High Street, West Chester, PA
Phoenixville – Schuylkill Township Municipal Grounds, DVCCC Tree of Hope & Healing, 111 Valley Park Road, Phoenixville, PA
Coatesville – The Coatesville Gazebo, E Lincoln Highway, Coatesville, PA
Kennett Square – DVCCC Tree of Hope & Healing, 600 S Broad Street, Kennett Square, PA
Pints with a Purpose
October 15 | 5–8 PM
Locust Lane Craft Brewery, Malvern
On Wednesday, October 15th, join us at Locust Lane Craft Brewery for Pints with a Purpose to support the Domestic Violence Center of Chester County: Raise a glass and raise hope!
Come cheer on our guest bartenders – DVCCC staff, board, and the hosts of PHL17‘s Positively Philly, Abby and Rachel – as they help raise funds for our survivors!
Here’s how you can support:
- Tune into Positively Philly on PHL17 at 9am on October 9th to learn more about the partnership between DVCCC and Locust Lane Craft Brewery.
- Tip Your Bartender – all CASH tips raised will be donated directly to DVCCC!
- Grab a Community Cup ($20) – $10 goes straight to DVCCC, and every pint in that cup adds another $1 donation!
- Get a ticket to the 50/50 raffle for a chance to win while giving back!
Locust Lane Craft Brewery
50 Three Tun Rd Suite #4, Malvern, PA 19355
This event is part of the Pints with a Purpose series, proudly hosted year-round by the Exton Region Chamber of Commerce and Locust Lane Craft Brewery.
Join us for a Domestic Violence Awareness
Month screening of The Invisible Man (2020) – rated R
at The Colonial Theatre
Following the screening we will host a live panel conversation with experts from DVCCC, the Chester County District Attorney’s Office, and Christo IT Services.
Thursday, October 23, 2025 at 7PM
The Colonial Theatre
227 Bridge Street
Phoenixville, PA 19460
Every October in communities across Chester County, DVCCC “Paints the Town Purple” with ribbons hung from the light poles. Special thanks to Colonial Gardens in Phoenixville for supplying these beautiful ribbons. This year, keep an eye out for our ribbons in…
- West Chester
- Kennett Square
- Coatesville
- Phoenixville
- Oxford
- Downingtown
- Malvern
- Parkesburg
- West Chester University
- Lincoln University
We are so grateful to our local libraries for helping increase our outreach in October – this year keep an eye out for materials & displays at:
- Spring City Public Library
- West Chester Public Library
- Oxford Library Company
- Parkesburg Free Library
- Kennett Library
We also developed a book list – with both fiction and nonfiction selections – for you to explore throughout awareness month as a way to learn more about this issue.
Find a title and pick it up from your local library by using the catalog search and/or InterLibraryLoan at www.ccls.org
DVCCC Education Programs are Coming to a Library Near You:
For the first time this October we will be providing a series of free educational programs at a few of our local libraries, you can use the links below to register!
There is nothing like a warm cup of coffee, tea, or cocoa on a crisp autumn day in October.
To help enhance awareness, we have partnered with several coffee shops in Chester County this month to enhance outreach – with each location providing DV Awareness Coffee Cup Sleeves with their To Go cups!
You can find DVCCC’s Coffee Cup Sleeves this October at:
The County Cup – Countywide Locations:
Chester County Government Services Center
601 Westtown Road, West Chester, PA
Chester County Justice Center
201 W Market Street, West Chester, PA
TCHS Pennock’s Bridge, Chester County Learning Center,
& ACCELerate Skilled Nursing and Rehab
Dia Doce/Cathey’s Coffee Bar
100 S High Street, West Chester, PA
Morgantown Coffee House
4997 N Twin Valley Rd, Elverson, PA 19520
Saxbys Coffee at West Chester University
701 S High Street, West Chester, PA
WE ARE PROUD TO PARTNER WITH THE
BRANDYWINE VALLEY SPCA
We are helping raise awareness about the ways domestic violence and animal abuse intersect while also celebrating National Animal Safety and Protection Month by providing the dogs in the West Chester Shelter with Purple Bandanas to wear, and the cats with purple ribbons!
Support the Brandywine Valley SPCA’s #DogsAgainstDomesticViolence as October is also National Adopt a Shelter Dog Month!