About 40,000 Central New Yorkers will be wearing white ribbons during the next week to show their support for victims of domestic violence.

The ribbons are being distributed by a number of businesses, religious centers, professional offices and schools as a part of the Vera House’s White Ribbon Campaign. The event raises awareness of domestic abuse as well as money for Alternatives, a program the Vera House organizes that works with men who have been abusive in their relationships, said Christine Benton, director of Communications and Special Events for Vera House.

Last year almost 1,500 of the 35,000-plus ribbons distributed were sold at Syracuse University, Benton said.

‘It’s really interesting to see how so many departments and organizations at the campus are getting involved,’ she said.

This year SU’s Rape Center, Hendricks Chapel, the First Year Players Company, some sororities, and several of SU’s schools are participating in the campaign.

Mylinda Smith, senior secretary at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, has sold ribbons for the Vera House for the past few years. Last year she sold about 170 ribbons and hopes to sell more this year.

‘I have 190 ribbons and I’m hopeful that yes, I will sell them all,’ said Smith, who has sold about 20 ribbons so far this year.

Dolores Card, director of SU’s Rape Center, said last year was the Rape Center’s first year involved with the project.

‘We wanted to do something on campus that would impact and teach a lot of students.’ Card said.

This year the center has a booth set up in Schine Student Center where students can donate $1 or more to receive a ribbon.

Benton said the program has grown since it began eight years ago largely through word of mouth.

‘We’re really growing by leaps and bounds and that’s because of the help from the community,’ she said.

Many people who see the white ribbons associate them with speaking out against domestic abuse, Card said.

‘I think it’s been done for so long,’ she said, ‘that people immediately connect the white ribbons with domestic abuse and Vera House.’

Thomas Wolfe, dean of Hendricks Chapel and a board member of Vera House, said he expects the campaign will prompt people to inquire about what the ribbons mean.

‘I hope when people wear white ribbons it will evoke the question: ‘what are those for?’ and the people who wear them will serve as educators for the community,’ Wolfe said.

Wolfe also said that talking about domestic violence is one of the best ways to try to prevent it.

‘Domestic violence is dependent on silence being maintained. It thrives on victims being quiet about their experiences,’ he said. ‘So when an organization like this acts to bring the problem to light it really helps.’

Smith agreed with Wolfe, and said more people should support the organization throughout the year.

‘I truly believe in the case. I think it’s a wonderful program,’ Smith said. ‘It needs more support than it gets.’

Vera House was formed in 1977 to advocate against domestic abuse and offer services for victims of domestic violence. At the time, Vera House ran a shelter in Syracuse. Since then it has grown into two shelters in Central New York that house victims of abuse. The corporation also oversees a children’s counseling program and educational, medical and religious programs aimed at helping victims of abuse.

Several activities are planned for the next week in celebration of the White Ribbon Campaign. The biggest event is the eighth annual White Ribbon Campaign Breakfast at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Holiday Inn on Electronics Parkway in Liverpool. White ribbons will also be distributed at several events during the next week, including Saturday’s Syracuse Crunch hockey game and Sunday’s performance of ‘The Dybbuk’ at Syracuse Stage.

Wolfe said it is important to support Vera House and its services because it assists people from all walks of life. Domestic violence happens ‘across economic, racial and religious lines,’ he said.

‘We need to be aware that domestic abuse, violence and unhealthy relationships are everywhere,’ he said. ‘It’s something that depends on the whole community to provide a way out because everybody deserves to live in a safe place.’

Published on April 4, 2002 at 12:00 pm