(Middletown, NY)-Senator Bonacic joined local elected officials, domestic violence advocates, law enforcement personnel and honored guests this afternoon at a press conference in Newburgh, hosted by Safe Homes of Orange County, commemorating the start of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Senator Bonacic spoke at the press conference and urged those in attendance to remain vigilant in recognizing and helping victims, and asked that they continue to do all they can to help end the scourge of domestic violence. Safe Homes of Orange County is a private, not-for-profit agency established in 1986 to provide comprehensive and confidential domestic services to victims and their families. Senator Bonacic secured a $50,000 grant for Safe Homes this year, which allowed them to continue to fund key programs, and has been a strong advocate for domestic violence awareness organizations throughout his career in public service.

 Part of the ceremony includes an exhibit entitled the ‘Clothesline Project.” The exhibit displays t-shirts with stories from domestic violence victims, as well as those who have died from a domestic violence incident. The ‘Clothesline Project” is a powerful reminder of the physical and emotional toll that domestic violence takes, not only on victims, but their families, and reinforces the notion that when it comes to ending domestic violence, there is still much work to be done.

Senator Bonacic is pictured with Kellyann Kostyal-Larrier, Executive Director of Safe Homes of Orange County. They’re pictured in front of the “Clothesline Project”