MASSIVE PURPLE MUM plants packed a wagon parked outside Faribault Fleet Supply when I stopped by Tuesday morning to pick up a multi-purpose plant spray.
Nearby, two women staged mums on the pavement next to a purple canopy bannered with “Ruth’s House.” A sign placed among the mums identified this as the “Purple Porch Project. STOP THE SILENCE, END DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.”
October marks Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a nationwide effort to raise awareness about the signs of domestic violence and ways to stop it, support survivors and advocates, and provide information and resources to those who are in positions of leadership and policy-making. Purple is the identifying color for this month-long endeavor.
Ruth’s House, marketing the purple mums, is an emergency/transitional shelter in Faribault for women and children in crisis and a sober living space for women transitioning from in-patient treatment. Those who temporarily move into Ruth’s House may be homeless due to domestic violence, poverty, substance abuse disorder, health challenges or other issues.
Whatever the reasons for their homelessness, I’m thankful my community has a house to call home for these women and their families. Likewise, I’m grateful for HOPE Center, another local organization that supports survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault with Hope, Outreach, Prevention and Education.
Both Ruth’s House and HOPE Center rely heavily on individual and community financial support, and also on government grants, to operate. And we all know that counting on government funding right now is tenuous at best. Thus fundraisers like Ruth’s Purple Porch Project are happening with the sale of $20 purple mums; a $100 Purple Porch décor kit (includes a handcrafted purple door wreath, 66 feet of purple string lights, a purple mum and a yard sign symbolizing unity); a $25 DIY purple wreath kit; and a $20 Ruth’s House yard sign.
Additionally, Ruth’s House is selling $10 raffle tickets for a children’s playhouse, wooden swing set, bike and helmet, arts & crafts table and chair set, play kitchen with table and two chairs; and a family game night basket. Ticket sales will help fund children’s programs at the emergency shelter.
Any of the fundraising items can be ordered/purchased online by clicking here. Or, if you live in the area, stop by Faribault Fleet Supply.
Mostly, I want you to pause for a moment and reflect on domestic violence. And if you don’t know that much about it, take time to learn. (Click here.) So many misconceptions exist about domestic violence with that oft asked question of “Why doesn’t she just leave?” It’s not that easy. It’s complicated and difficult and even potentially dangerous without a safe plan in place.
Do what you can. Support. Encourage. Love. Advocate. Be there. Listen. Help. It takes all of us, individually and collectively, to stop domestic abuse and violence.
© Copyright 2025 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
Love the purple mums and the creative raffle to raise funds and awareness. Such an important thing to highlight this month. Thank you!
Yes, I agree. Important to highlight and the purple mums are a creative way to call attention to Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
Many years ago I directed a large family homeless shelter. My biggest challenge was keeping my staff going in the face of the abuse we witnessed. Oddly, one incident gave the staff morale an enormous boost. I retuned to the shelter after a meeting off site, greeted by all the staff on duty. They were very excited and began to tell me about their adventure. Some guy, apparently a husband of someone in shelter, and found the shelter and was carrying a large knife as he approached. Staff called 911. Within three minutes three police cruisers and a swat team had arrived and arrested the guy. From then on, staff at least felt they would get support in an emergency. Always my second most challenging task was to protect clients and staff.
Thank you for doing this important work. Truly. I’m sure your work was both rewarding and stressful, but, oh, so necessary.
Audrey, looking back it seems to me that as stressful as it was for us, and it was stressful, it was much more difficult for the homeless families. Being the director, often focused on administrative tasks, I was also shielded from many of the stories. Still, I learned that anyone can become homeless. As a trauma therapist, I already knew too much about domestic violence. Looking back, now some 25 years, I see the experience as pivotal and deeply rewarding. I also see how crucial community support is for all concerned. Please keep posting about the needs of those in your community who need support.
Michael, I can only imagine the depth of trauma you observed both as a therapist and administrator. Thank you for everything you did to support those who needed help. I will continue to write on topics like this, my way of enlightening, supporting, helping.
this is so incredibly important to raise awareness and let people know they have support and that there are people and places and options for them. it truly can be a matter of life and death.
Knowledge is power. And, yes, it can be a matter of life and death.
Audrey, thank you for keeping the public aware of Domestic Violence. I’ve volunteered at a few different places that offer these services. You are correct, there are so many misconceptions about domestic violence. I wish more community members would volunteer or take the time to learn more. It takes all of us working and learning together to stop the violence. 💜💜
Rose, thank you for volunteering at places which help those in abusive situations. I can see you doing that given your kind, caring, compassionate and loving spirit.
It does take all of us working together to make a difference.
Thanks for this post. Next month is Epilepsy awareness month and it’s color is purple too. 😉
I look forward to reading a post by you about Epilepsy Awareness Month.
beautiful flowers. What a great place to have but so unfortunate that we still need places like these
We will always need shelters for those who are enduring domestic abuse and violence. I wish, too, that we didn’t. But we do.