Original printed/posted by Delaware Gazette: 4/1/14
April is Sexual Assault Awareness month, and among the events HelpLine of Delaware and Morrow County’s Sexual Assault Response Network (SARN) is putting on is a glitter jar workshop.
Glitter jars are often made with a mason jar, glitter glue, hot water and food coloring to create an inexpensive calming device.
“For people who have a hard time meditating or deep breathing, it’s an easy way to aid in relaxation, grounding, and centering, which aids in healing from sexual assault,” SARN Coordinator Nora Flanagan told The Gazette. “You get mesmerized by the glitter when it’s shaken and swirls all around.”
“It is also an opportunity to acknowledge and be astonished at the capacity to heal,” said workshop leader and professional counselor Kate Fox in a statement. “Because, even when we are shaken, there is still beauty.”
Participants will get to pick the colors, make their own jar and take it home.
“It’s going to be a fun and easy hands-on tool for self-regulation,” Flanagan said.
The free, confidential workshop will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. on April 26. The location will be disclosed on registration by calling Flanagan at 740-363-1835 ext. 105.
Flanagan also said HelpLine is sponsoring “a new sexual assault/abuse survivor support group for college-age students. People don’t need to be in college, but we call it the 18- to-20-something group. We deal with that period of going from dependence to independence, and how sexual assault can wreak havoc on that. We thought that was an under-served population, so we have a group that meets once a month for an hour. It’s all confidential, and female-only. They just need to call me to register.”
Among the other events taking place this month is Denim Days on April 11 and April 25 to protest erroneous attitudes about sexual assault. Information on other events can be accessed by visiting www.helplinedelmor.org.
“The goal is to raise public awareness about sexual violence, and to educate individuals and communities on how to prevent sexual violence,” Flanagan said.
Finally, HelpLine offers a 24-hour hotline, by dialing 2-1-1.
“Even if someone can’t come to an event, or doesn’t want to, the 24-hour hotline is always there if they just want to talk,” Flanagan said. “We do crisis intervention and ongoing advocacy for them. And we’re free.”
LINKS
- Download flyer – 2014 SAAM/CAP events HERE
- Download flyer – BLOOM! Glitter Jar Workshop flyer HERE
- Original post link: http://www.delgazette.com/news/home_top/4064936/Glitter-jar-said-to-help-assault-survivors
- Download pdf of this story HERE
