On September 27, General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC) member clubs around the world will participate in this year’s GFWC International Day of Service (IDS). Nearly 850 clubs had registered by mid-August, all promising to unite with the singular mission to eradicate domestic and sexual violence.

Newtown Woman’s Club, GFWC (NWC) is proudly among those standing tall in response to the invitation. Its members have promised to join others to raise awareness and take action to help end domestic and sexual violence.

According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 736 million to 862 million women age 15 and older have experienced domestic and/or sexual violence. Within the United States, research conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states more than 16 million people are affected annually by these forms of personal violence.

Closer to home, The Center for Empowerment and Education (CEE; formerly The Women’s Center) in Danbury reported serving 2,147 clients last year within its 11-town region, which includes Newtown. There were 10,553 total client interactions, however, according to CEE’s annual report.

Of the known perpetrations, 75% were domestic violence, with the other 25% being sexual assault.

CEE launched a new database in FY 23 specifically designed for interpersonal violence data. As a result, CEE now has full control over data reporting and data entry. The numbers above “represent unduplicated clients annually versus month over month with an annual total,” the report also noted.

CEE staff and counselors provided 6,540 hours of service last year. As also noted in the agency’s annual report, there are only 8,736 hours in a year, meaning 75% of last year’s hours were spent with clients.

Through direct service and community impact, 3,072 Newtown residents were served last year. That’s 13.95% of CEE’s total 22,021 people served last year.

Efforts Already Underway

Newtown Woman’s Club members have already received a proclamation from First Selectman Jeff Capeci and Town Clerk Debbie Aurelia Halstead officially recognizing September 27, 2025 as Domestic & Sexual Awareness & Prevention Day in Newtown.

Capeci and Halstead were joined on August 25 by members of Newtown Woman’s Club for the formal signing and presentation of the proclamation.

The document notes in part that the local club has worked since its founding in 1968 to impact the Newtown community “in a positive and meaningful manner, is dedicated to volunteer community service, [and] continues to highlight needs in their community.”

The proclamation also notes Connecticut statistics from 2024 show of those who experienced domestic violence and/or sexual assault, 23.2% — or one in four women — and 13.9% — or one in seven men — experienced partner physical and sexual abuse.

The GFWC has suggested member clubs research the needs of their communities in the areas of domestic and sexual violence, and plan International Day of Service work for any of eight subcategories. Categories include Campus Sexual Assault, Child Abuse, Elder Abuse, Human Trafficking for Sexual Purposes, Intimate Partner Violence, Military Sexual Assault, Teen Dating Violence, and Violence Against Native American Women.

According to the proclamation the local club has received, NWC will focus its projects on raising awareness in five of those subcategories: Child Abuse, Elder Abuse, Intimate Partner Abuse, Teen Dating Violence, and Military Sexual Assault.

During the local women’s club August meeting, members offered items for Maderas Home for Women Veterans in Bridgeport. The state’s first and only community-based transitional home exclusively for female veterans and their young children, the space offers ten beds for women and four beds for young children.

NWC IDS Project Coordinator Jo Ann Bruno explained it as a place for women “who have not only experienced homelessness but also abuse. Ahead of the club’s August meeting, members were asked to consider offering donations for the protective shelter.

“We created a collection of sheets, silverware and utensils, dishes — I can’t even remember everything we gathered,” she said.

NWC President Rosemary Rau was proud to not only have the collection done, but also was pleased with the initial offering by the long-standing club.

“It being summer hiatus I was so proud our members stepping up,” she said.

Painting Newtown Purple

October is recognized as Domestic & Sexual Violence Awareness Month. Its signature color is purple.

NWC members plan to place purple bows and/or ribbons on their mailboxes, fences, front doors and nearby trees beginning September 27. The presentation — called Paint Newtown Purple, according to Rau — will continue all month. Bruno told The Newtown Bee in mid-August the club hopes Newtown residents and business owners will recognize and join the effort by adding their own ribbons and bows in public places.

Awareness of the issue will also be raised by the placement of wreaths at C.H. Booth Library, Edmond Town Hall, Newtown Municipal Center, and Newtown Senior Center, according to Rau. A growing number of Main Street homeowners have additionally agreed to place bows on their mailboxes and/or trees, she added.

“Newtown Woman’s Club will also continue to support The Center for Empowerment and Education,” Bruno said August 15. “The club does a monthly collection for the center, which we then deliver.

“Sometimes we do a general collection, and other times we fill specific requests. Whatever they and their clients need, we do what we can to help,” she added.

Woman’s Club members will be at Fairfield Hills on October 4, when the first CEE SafeWalk takes place in town (see page B-7). SafeWalks have served as fund- and awareness raising events for CEE for 18 years. This year for the first time six local town walks and a virtual event have all been planned.

NWC members plan to participate, according to Bruno.

Newtown Woman’s Club will continue to raise awareness of domestic and sexual violence well beyond the International Day of Service and even the end of October. According to Bruno, “a small committee is already discussing loosely how to continue and expand our support.”

Among its services, The Center for Empowerment and Education operates confidential, no-cost hotlines 24/7/365. For those who need help, the CEE Domestic Violence Hotline can be reached at 203-731-5206 and the CEE Sexual Assault Hotline is 203-731-5204. Additionally, the CT Safe Connect Hotline is 888-774-2900 and the National Domestic Violence Hotline is 800-799-SAFE (800-799-7233, TTY 800-787-3224).

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Managing Editor Shannon Hicks can be reached at shannon@thebee.com or 203-426-3141 x218.