five staff members wearing purple shirts in front of the shelterBlog

Purple Thursday

September 24, 2025By

October 16 is Purple Thursday, a national day to show support for survivors during Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Participation is easy. Make plans to wear purple t-shirts, sweaters, pants, ties, and shoes on Thursday, October 16 to identify yourself as an advocate for survivors and call for an end to the abuse.

Post your purple selfie on social media to let friends and family know why this mission is important to you. Tag us in your posts, so we can celebrate your participation!

(And if you live or work in Lexington, double the awareness! Wear your purple again on October 23 for the Domestic and Sexual Violence Prevention Coalition’s Purple Thursday event.)

Why is Purple Thursday Important? 

Purple Thursday is important to our mission because raising awareness is an essential part of working to end the cycle of abuse. It’s a day to identify yourself as an advocate and raise awareness.

Imagine being told no one will believe you. That you’re unworthy of better. Being gaslighted and wondering if you’re to blame.

But on this day you see purple at your workplace, the grocery store, the soccer game, on social media. You see friends, family, and strangers demonstrating they will believe you. That you’re worthy. Showing they will support you.

Why Purple? 

The color purple is a symbol of peace, courage, survival, honor, and dedication to ending violence. It’s believed the color’s connection to our mission might have begun during women’s suffrage.   

In 1978, thousands of advocates for women’s equal rights wore purple when they marched in Washington, D.C. Today the color honors this history, survivors of abuse, and those lives that have been ended too early.   

Download the Purple Thursday flyer to promote the day in your community.

This is what a safe community looks like.

Let’s start conversations and be ready with resources. Think about why you’re participating in the day. What will you say when someone asks you why this mission matters to you? Write down our 24-hour Crisis Hotline, so you’re prepared if someone asks for help. That number is 800-544-2022.

Follow this link for more ways to support survivors and end domestic violence.

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October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

September 24, 2025By

Survivors and their children deserve to feel safe in their homes and communities. We can all help make safety visible, real, and possible.

Community Calendar

All Month
PEACE PUMPKINS

Look for purple pumpkins at businesses in the Lexington-Fayette area. Peace Pumpkins are a project of the Domestic and Sexual Violence Prevention Coalition. Each pumpkin includes a QR-code that links to information about services.

All Month
CARTOBER

Cartober is a month to share how your used vehicle donation can support nonprofit organizations. We partner with CARS to accept donations of cars, trucks, motorcycles, RVs, and boats to support survivors. Learn more at this link.

All Month
DANVILLE & BOYLE COUNTY 

Get a purple slushie at Danville Smoothies, 905 Hustonville Road. Grab a coffee and Domestic Violence Awareness Month stickers at The Hub Coffee House & Cafe, 236 West Main Street. Browse the Domestic Violence Awareness Month book display at Plaid Elephant Bookstore, 116 North 3rd Street. Find the Domestic Violence Awareness Month reading list at Boyle County Library, 307 West Broadway Street. Notice the Boyle County Courthouse fountain is purple to show support for survivors and raise awareness about services.

Tuesday, September 30
SHINE PURPLE

Shine purple for survivors! Boyle County is hosting a domestic violence awareness event from 5 pm to 7 pm in Constitution Square 105 E Walnut Street Danville. There will be resource tables, kids’ activities, and food trucks. Thank you to Lowe’s for donating purple light bulbs to shine purple throughout the town.

Wednesday, October 1
DVAM AWARENESS AT CENTRE

Centre College is hosting a domestic violence awareness event from 11 am to 1 pm at Campus Center – 600 W Walnut St. Danville.

Sunday, October 5
PAINT WARS

Alpha Chi Omega and Sigma Nu at the University of Kentucky host Paint Wars in October to raise money to support survivors. The event starts at 6 pm at the William H. Pieratt Student Recreation Field.

Monday, October 6
DINE OUT AT SEDONA TAPHOUSE PALOMAR

Enjoy 50% off eligible meals at the Palomar location of Sedona Taphouse in Lexington. For each charity entrée sold, Sedona Taphouse will donate $1 to the mission. Learn more.

Monday, October 6
TRAUMA-INFORMED YOGA CLASS

Begins at 5 pm in Danville. For more information and location, call or text Kris at 859-327-6208.

Tuesday, October 7
PEACEFUL YOGA ON THE LAWN

As part of Centre College’s DVAM programming, an outdoor yoga event will be hosted. Community partners will also be present to share resources with students. The event is from 6 pm to 7:30 pm at the Lawn at Centre College.

Thursday, October 9
BCTC WELLNESS FEST

Bluegrass Community and Technical College is hosting a Wellness Fest with community resources for students. The event is from 11 am to 1 pm at their campus at 500 Newtown Pike in Lexington.

Friday, October 10
[VIRTUAL] CONVERSATIONS WITH COMMISSIONERS

A [Virtual] Conversation with the Kentucky Commission on Women discussing domestic violence in Kentucky. Hosted by Ann Perkins, Safe Harbor Executive Director, with guests Peggy Patterson, U.S Magistrate Judge (retired), and Darlene Thomas, GreenHouse17 Executive Director. You can watch the live stream AT 12:30 p.m. on the Commission’s YouTube channel.

Saturday, October 11
ROCK RELIEF

The band Canvas and the Cellar Bar & Grille at Lansdowne will host Rock Relief, a day of amazing local music to raise awareness and funds for survivors. Learn more.

Sunday, October 12
FAITH & BLUE DONATION DRIVE

We’re grateful to be the benefiting charity of the Faith and Blue Community Giveback hosted by the Lexington Police Department. Join us at Grace Baptist Church, 811 Bryan Avenue from Noon to 2 pm. Learn more about Faith & Blue on their website at this link.

Monday, October 13
DINE OUT AT SEDONA TAPHOUSE PALOMAR

Enjoy 50% off eligible meals at the Palomar location of Sedona Taphouse in Lexington. For each charity entrée sold, Sedona Taphouse will donate $1 to the mission. Learn more.

Monday, October 13
GROUNDING TECHNIQUES CLASS

Begins at 5 pm in Danville. For more information and location, call or text Kris at 859-327-6208.

Thursday, October 16
PURPLE THURSDAY

A national day of wearing purple to identify yourself as an advocate for survivors! Put on purple shirts, pants, ties, and more to show your support and raise awareness and call for an end to domestic violence.

Monday, October 20
DINE OUT AT SEDONA TAPHOUSE PALOMAR

Enjoy 50% off eligible meals at the Palomar location of Sedona Taphouse in Lexington. For each charity entrée sold, Sedona Taphouse will donate $1 to the mission. Learn more.

Monday, October 20
SAFETY PLANNING & DOMESTIC VIOLENCE EVIDENCE DOCUMENTATION WORKSHOP

Begins at 5 pm in Danville.  For more information and location, call or text Kris at 859-327-6208. 

Wednesday, October 22
PROCLAMATION SIGNING

Join representatives of domestic violence programs at the Capitol Education Center in Frankfort for the signing of the Domestic Violence Awareness Month proclamation. The event is at 10 am and open to the public.

Thursday, October 23
DSVPC & UK VIP CENTER PURPLE THURSDAY EVENT

If you’re in Lexington, double the awareness! Put on your purple again for the month’s second Purple Thursday with the Lexington-Fayette Domestic and Sexual Violence Prevention Coalition and UK VIP Center.

Thursday, October 23
RISE UP: A SURVIVORS TRIBUTE

The Fayette County Sheriff will host the annual domestic violence vigil in Lexington at 5:30 pm, outside in the Robert F. Stephens Courthouse Plaza, 150 N. Limestone.

Friday, October 24
CANDLELIGHT WALK & VIGIL

Begins at 6 pm from the Boyle County Courthouse, 321 West Main Street. For more information, call or text Kris at 859-327-6208.

Monday, October 27
DINE OUT AT SEDONA TAPHOUSE PALOMAR

Enjoy 50% off eligible meals at the Palomar location of Sedona Taphouse in Lexington. For each charity entrée sold, Sedona Taphouse will donate $1 to the mission. Learn more.

Learn More


Safety for Survivors

Our hotline is answered 24/7 by Certified Domestic Violence Advocates. Together, safety plans can be developed that meet the unique needs of survivors and their children. Advocates can assist in finding emergency shelter, accompaniment to court proceedings, share information on support groups, or just be there to listen. Please call us if you or someone you know is being harmed at 800-544-2022.

Being a Safe Person

You can be a safe person for friends and family who are being abused. Educate yourself about intimate partner abuse, believe the stories they tell you, and listen more than you speak. Say you are really worried and ask if they have a safety plan. Suggest they call our hotline to speak with an advocate. You can call us, too, and learn how to offer support. 

Safety in our Community

Create safe workplaces. Ask if your workplace has a policy on intimate partner abuse. If they don’t, share toolkits from It’s Time Lexington with your company. Hang our crisis hotline tear-off flyers at your workplace and in community spaces like coffee shops to make safety visible and accessible. 

By taking a stand against intimate partner abuse today, we support survivors and build a community that will be intolerant of violence for generations to come.

Follow this link for more ways to support survivors and end domestic violence.

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Rock Relief

September 23, 2025By

Make plans to attend Rock Relief to End Domestic Violence on Saturday, October 11 to show your support for survivors.

The band Canvas and the Cellar Bar & Grille will host Rock Relief, a day of amazing local music to raise awareness and funds for survivors of domestic violence.

Performances begin at 1 pm and continue until 11 pm.

Musicians include Ben Lacy, Michael Robinson, Mike Mankel, Hi 5, The Strayz, Alex Leigh, Southern Brothers Band, Flashback, and Canvas.

Entry is free with a suggested donation of gift cards to Walmart, Kroger, Target, etc. for survivors!

Rock Relief is a charitable event organized and founded by Ned Bellau, drummer with the band Canvas. We are grateful for the time and talent of the musicians who are volunteering to perform during the day. Hope to see you there!

Follow this link for more ways to support survivors and end domestic violence.

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Annual Report

Cartober

September 22, 2025By

Cartober is a month to share how your used vehicle donation can support nonprofit organizations.

We partner with Charitable Adult Rides & Services (CARS) to accept donations of cars, trucks, motorcycles, RVs, and boats to our mission.

Corissa Phillips, our external relations director, recently donated her 23-year-old vehicle to CARS.

“I had an emotional connection to that old blue station wagon. It was the first car I ever purchased as an adult, and both of my kids had driven it at some point during high school and college,” she remembers.

“It had body damage, a broken tire rod, duct tape repairs to the roof. It hadn’t started for more than a year.”  

The CARS donation team assured Corissa the parts had value, so long as she had the title, even if the vehicle wasn’t roadworthy. The towing was free, and she wouldn’t be charged any fees. 

Only a week after initiating the donation, Corissa watched as her old station wagon was towed down the driveway. She was notified it sold at auction two weeks later and $223.47, equal to 70% of the sale, was being transferred to GreenHouse17. 

“I was really surprised my old car sold for that much! I should’ve done this years ago,” she says.

Follow this link to donate your car, truck, motorcyle, boat, RV, or other vehicle to support our mission.

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Volunteers Matter

August 20, 2025By

Time & Talent

Michael Watts was first introduced to our organization when his wife discovered the farm while looking for flowers for their church’s garden exchange.

He soon began donating to the mission and volunteering to help with big community events like Shop & Share.

“I have three sisters, and women in many contexts are regarded as second class. That’s a great unfairness,” Michael says. “I volunteer to help lift up the women that come here.”

After retiring, Michael found more time to lend his hands on the farm, where his efforts have made a lasting impact. Recently he has been clearing a path and circle seating space in a wooded area on the property for residents.

“To me, taking a walk through the woods is a very calming and spiritual experience.”

Are you looking for a volunteer match for your interests? Our current opportunities, onsite and remote, are listed on our website here.

Read the Summer 2025 Issue of Bloom

This is one article from our print newsletter. Follow the link above to read the full issue!

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person holding bears in front of bulletin boardBlog

Arlington Elementary

August 13, 2025By

Sew Sweet!

Fourth and fifth graders at Arlington Elementary lovingly sewed more than 70 teddy bears for children living at our emergency shelter.

“Our students learned to hand sew, cut a pattern, stuff their bear, and were so proud of themselves with their finished product,” explains Kristen Blaker, Art Teacher and Sustainability Coordinator.

The project was supported with a grant from CHI St. Joseph Health to promote art and kindness at school. Members of our staff attended a special pep rally to accept the donation.

Each bear is as unique as the student who made it, and every bear was made with love, from the heart of one child to another.

“The students created a handwritten note to put in their heart pocket on the bear,” shares Ms. Blaker. “Some of these were tearjerkers, as we have students who know hardships firsthand.”

Read the Summer 2025 Issue of Bloom

This is one article from our print newsletter. Follow the link above to read the full issue!

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sunflower field with person in hat standing upBlog

New Survivor Stipend Match

August 11, 2025By

A new one-time grant from Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government’s Office of Homelessness Prevention and Intervention (OHPI) will support nature-based healing and stability after surviving abuse.

Survivors living at the shelter experience the benefits of nature in many ways—from farm walks to nutritious meals. Adult survivors may choose to participate in a focused six-week project that provides a stipend for their contributions to the farm’s day-to-day operations.

“The stipend was amazing for me,” shares Eboni, a past stipend project participant. “I was able to save $200, get clothes for my son and me, fix my car, and even buy a washer and dryer for our new apartment.”

Funding from OHPI will provide a dollar-for-dollar match on the value of stipends earned by survivors. Matching funds can be applied to self-identified barriers to economic stability. Examples include expenses like car repairs, rental fees, job uniforms, medical care, and savings accounts.

“Nearly every person we serve has also suffered financial abuse,” shares Diane Fleet, associate director. “Survivors often face a long list of expenses that can delay and, too often, hinder progress made toward economic stability. Removing just a few of those barriers can make all the difference.”

“For future participants receiving more, it’ll just double their chances for success,” adds Eboni.

You can support survivors participating in the farm stipend program by attending a U-Pick Day on the farm in August or September! Click here to reserve your bucket for some flower picking fun.

Read the Summer 2025 Issue of Bloom

This is one article from our print newsletter. Follow the link above to read the full issue!

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police officer holding radioBlog

Lethality Assessment Program

August 7, 2025By

A new program partnership will offer support in Scott County and Frankfort.

A nationally recognized Lethality Assessment Program is expanding to Kentucky, thanks to leadership by ZeroV, the state coalition of domestic violence programs, and Merryman House in Paducah.

This evidenced-based strategy developed by the Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence reduces intimate partner homicides and serious injuries.

Equal partnership between victim service providers and law enforcement is a cornerstone of the program and the Scott County Sheriff’s Office and Frankfort City Police Department were eager to sign on.

The program equips these law enforcement offices with 11 screening questions to help identify victims at the highest risk of being killed by an intimate partner. When high risk is indicated, officers immediately call the GreenHouse17 crisis hotline from the scene.

Survivors will speak directly with an advocate about safety planning and available services.

“This program is proven to save lives,” says Darlene Thomas, our executive director. “We’re grateful for the partnership of law enforcement and sister organizations to bring the first Lethality Assessment Program to central Kentucky.”

Read the Summer 2025 Issue of Bloom

This is one article from our print newsletter. Follow the link above to read the full issue!

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House Bill 38

July 31, 2025By

Mary Ann’s Story Continues. Read the first part here.

After their phone call, Mary Ann and Representative Tipton began drafting legislation to hold abusers accountable. Their work would become known as HB 38 during this year’s Kentucky General Assembly.

She received another call from the congressman after the bill was filed. He asked Mary Ann to share her testimony with the House Standing Committee Judiciary.

Although nervous, Mary Ann remembers feeling supported from the moment she arrived at the Capitol Annex. She bravely shared her story and called for change.

“Today, I stand here with the hope that this bill will pass with essential provisions to escalate repeated domestic violence offenses to felony charges.”

The committee voted to pass the bill to the House of Representatives, which unanimously voted to approve.

This moved the bill to the Senate Standing Committee Judiciary. Mary Ann testified for a second time, inspiring the committee to move the bill to the full Senate.

She returned to Frankfort a few weeks later to witness the Senate’s vote and received a standing ovation from the crowd. Governor Beshear signed the legislation into law this March.

Per Kentucky Revised Statutes, the violation of an order of protection by a person convicted of two or more previous violations in five years is a Class D felony, if the third or subsequent violation uses or attempts to use physical force or threatens physical harm. The protected person can differ across violations.

Read the Summer 2025 Issue of Bloom

This is one article from our print newsletter. Follow the link above to read the full issue!

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21 Years

Mary Ann’s Story

July 31, 2025By

“I have reclaimed my strength and my voice.”

On the morning of December 18, 2022, I was jolted awake by my now ex-husband, only to find myself being brutally attacked.

I was hit in the head with a phone, my face busted, knocked to the ground, held down by the back of my neck, and told I was going to be killed if I said anything or moved.

I lay there, my mind racing with a single thought. I don’t want to die. The man staring at me was not the man I had married. I knew I had to run.

I broke free and sprinted out the door. I ran up the driveway, down the road, and finally ducked behind a truck. My hands were shaking as I dialed 911.

He was arrested that night, but less than two weeks later, he was released on bond with an ankle monitor. I was granted a temporary Emergency Protective Order (EPO) until our court hearing on January 10, 2023.

On that day, the court issued a three-year no contact Domestic Violence Order (DVO).

The order meant nothing to him. He wasted no time violating it, calling and leaving 23 messages within five days. The ankle monitor offered no real protection–he had already decided he was coming for me.

As a survivor of domestic violence, I continue to endure the ongoing actions of my abuser every day. My ex-husband has violated the protective order against him more than 50 times, yet each offense has been classified as a misdemeanor.

When does it stop?

I reached out to James Tipton, my state representative, and left a voicemail about my situation. He called me the next day…

Mary Ann’s phone call with Representative Tipton would make history. Her story continues here.

This is only part of Mary Ann’s story, in her own words, shared with permission.

Read the Summer 2025 Issue of Bloom

This is one article from our print newsletter. Follow the link above to read the full issue!

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