PORT TOWNSEND — Tonight, residents can “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” to increase awareness of domestic violence, then dine out to support children’s programs at the YMCA.
The walk will begin at 6 p.m. at Rotary Park.
Participating restaurants will be open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The Dove House-sponsored “Walk a Mile” event asks participants — mostly men — to strap on high heels and walk from Rotary Park to the Northwest Maritime Center to symbolize what some women go through on a daily basis.
While donations will be solicited at the event, Dove House Program Director Nicole Barnard said it is intended more toward raising awareness.
“We want to get men onboard with the message that sexual violence is wrong,” she said.
“Men can be effective advocates in getting this across.”
Walking in really uncomfortable shoes can get them to think, she said.
Mentoring programs
Meanwhile, the Jefferson County Family YMCA’s “Dine Out For Kids” program has recruited 20 local restaurants to pledge 15 percent of the day’s profits to support mentoring programs.
Both events are in their second year and last year were coincidentally scheduled on the same date.
This year, the simultaneous scheduling was deliberate, with the YMCA and the Dove House coordinating the programs.
Those wishing to participate in “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” should gather at the Rotary Park near the ferry terminal on Water Street between 5:30 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Event sponsor Dove House will have several pairs of shoes for participants to wear. They can also bring their own or walk along wearing their usual shoes.
At the end of the walk, the Lighthouse Lions Club will serve refreshments at the Northwest Maritime Center, where Dove House Executive Director Beulah Kingsolver, Jefferson County Sheriff Tony Hernandez and Port Townsend Police Chief Conner Daily will speak.
To prepare for the restaurant fundraiser, the Port Townsend High School shop class under the direction of Jim Guthrie manufactured special donation boxes to collect the money.
The 6-inch cubes have been delivered to each restaurant and will remain in some places after the event, said Kim Hammers, who heads the YMCA Building Futures Mentoring program.
For information about “Dine Out,” visit www.jeffersoncountyymca.org, phone 360-385-5811 or phone individual local restaurants to see if they are participating.
For more information about “Walk a Mile,” phone 360-385-5292.
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
