CARE Healing Center, Carroll County's nonprofit crisis and counseling center for survivors of sexual violence, will hold its annual Lighting the Way for Survivors vigil tonight from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Wakefield Valley Park Event Center, 1000 Fenby Farm Road in Westminster.
The vigil is open to the public. CARE says it is meant to "honor the strength of survivors and stand together in support of all those impacted by sexual violence."
In an email to the Westminster Wire, CARE Executive Director Stephanie Powers said the vigil is a chance for the community to "come together, honor survivors, remember those whose voices have gone unheard, and shine a light on the hope and healing that can come when survivors have people and organizations willing to walk alongside them."
Powers said this year's vigil carries added weight because of a sexual assault case at Cornell University that has drawn national attention in recent weeks. She called it "a painful reminder of what can happen when people witness harm and don't know how or don't choose to intervene."
Powers said CARE wants the vigil to call attention to survivors' experiences and, "just as importantly," to the help available to them in Carroll County.
Who CARE serves
Until recently the organization was called the Rape Crisis Intervention Service of Carroll County, or RCIS. According to its website, it has been the county's main provider of free services to survivors of sexual violence since 1978. It took the name CARE Healing Center when it expanded its mission to include victims of human trafficking of any age.
CARE serves survivors of sexual and domestic violence ages 5 and older, "whether it happened today or in the past," along with friends and family members affected by that violence. Its website says services are confidential and free for up to six months.
Services include:
A 24-hour helpline
Therapy and support groups
Accompaniment: advocates go with survivors to hospitals, courts, law enforcement and schools
A confidential virtual crisis room for people who can't come in person
Outreach and education in schools and the community
CARE's office is at 224 N. Center St., Room 102, in Westminster, and is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays.
If you or someone you know needs help
CARE's 24-hour helpline is 410-857-7322. The office number is 410-857-0900. More information is at carehealingcenter.org.
The National Sexual Assault Hotline, run by RAINN, can be reached at 800-656-4673 or online at rainn.org.
If you go
What: Lighting the Way for Survivors vigil
Host: CARE Healing Center
When: Wednesday, Oct. 7, 6 to 8 p.m.
Where: Wakefield Valley Park Event Center, 1000 Fenby Farm Road, Westminster
More info: carehealingcenter.org or 410-857-0900