10/20/2026
What a beautiful show of community support.🥰
Thank you to everyone who came out last night to help us "Light Up the Night" to raise awareness and honor all those affected by . 🕯️💜
Everyone deserves safety, no matter who they are, what their age, what they do or where they come from. If you or someone you know is experiencing harm, please know that you are not alone, reach out to us, support is ready when you are.
A special thank you to Clarissa T. Berry for Commonwealth's Attorney, Investigator Foster with Madison County Sheriff's Office and Jessie with SAFE - Services to Abused Families, Inc for sharing about the dynamics of domestic violence and the impacts, along with the services they provide and the importance of a compassionate community response. This community is fortunate to have many dedicated and compassionate individuals who work collaboratively to combat domestic violence and ensure that those experiencing harm are connected with appropriate services and support as quickly as possible. Some additional partnerships we have here include Madison County Social Services, Madison County Emergency Medical Services, court services, our schools, the Madison County Board of Supervisors, churches, and many others. Please know that we see you, and you are appreciated!
And now to give some love and public praise with our Community Partner Awards! These award recipients display unique qualities, but each have gone above and beyond to serve victims of domestic violence and they have made a commitment to partner with us and to connect victims with services as soon as possible.
Purple Ribbon Award - Deputy Dylan Guizar with the Madison County Sheriff's Office for his compassionate, non-judgmental response to victims while maintaining the goal of safety and his partnership with our program. Survivors have shared that his calm demeanor and thoughtful approach made a meaningful difference in helping to deescalate their situation, allowing them to feel safe enough to reach out for additional support from the V/W program.
Purple Ribbon Award - Trooper Troy Shelton with Virginia State Police for his attentive, thoughtful, and compassionate response to those experiencing domestic violence and his long-standing collaboration with our community. It has been shared with us that his patience and thoughtful approach made a meaningful difference in helping a person who was being harmed feel heard, supported and willing to engage with the system.
Purple Ribbon Award - Local attorney, Elizabeth Rabb, for her willingness to lend her legal expertise, understanding that sometimes when someone is experiencing abuse and they are at their rock bottom, trying to survive, feeling unheard and ill-equipped within the court system, receiving legal advice and/or representation is like a hand reaching out to help them find light in the darkness.
Champion of Victims and Survivors Award - Jeanne Parrish, DNP, APRN, FNP-C for her outstanding community partnership, her legacy of compassionate service, unwavering advocacy, and collaborative leadership in the response to domestic violence. She exhibits a level of concern, kindness, attention to detail and passionate advocacy that comes from her eduring commitment to making sure all those harmed by abuse are heard, aware of their options for protection and given the opportunity to heal.
We are so grateful to have such exceptional community partnerships here in Madison County. Through our shared commitment, we can continue to strengthen our response, improve access to resources, and help create a safer, more supportive community for all.
We can't do it alone though. So, if someone shares their experience with you or you are concerned about someone…a supportive, non-judgmental approach is key. Leaving a violent relationship is one of the most dangerous times, and there may be barriers (financial, children, medical, etc.) that make the decisions they are facing even harder. The National Domestic Violence Hotline says that on average, it takes someone seven times to leave before staying away for good. Keeping that in mind, the best support you can offer is your ear and your knowledge of the community resources available where they can receive support in identifying the safest options for their situation. And if you are someone who is experiencing harm, please reach out, you deserve to be safe. 🌈💜
https://pjrnews.com/articles/crime-and-courts/%e2%96%b6%ef%b8%8emadison-county-honors-local-advocates-responders-at-light-up-the-night-ceremony/
