The fountain in front of New Iberia City Hall off Main Street was bathed in purple Wednesday in commemoration of the month of October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, as well as for an event by Chez Hope highlighting the issue.

A short event took place Wednesday afternoon with public officials and law enforcement agencies from across Iberia Parish observing the occasion. While the event started with some moderate rainfall, it was all sunshine by the end of the event.

Chez Hope is a domestic violence shelter for women that has been working in Iberia Parish for slightly more than a year, and in that time has helped many survivors of domestic violence.

More recently, the organization also has opened the Keeping Kids in Domestic Situations Safe, or KKIDSS facility, in Church Alley in downtown New Iberia. The facility offers a supervised location for parents and children in the case of a court order, or for parents to hand off their child to each other.

Wednesday, however, was all about raising awareness for the survivors of domestic and the law enforcement officers in Iberia Parish who have assisted them since Chez Hope has been working in the area.

Organization leaders gave awards to Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Deputy Philip Early, New Iberia Police Captain Corey Porter and Jeanerette City Marshal/Jeanerette Police Chief Fernest “Pacman” Martin as exemplary law enforcement agents who have gone above and beyond in helping survivors of domestic abuse.

“We could give awards to so many people, but these are the people our volunteers and survivors have said deserved recognition,” Chez Hope Executive Director Cherisse Picard said at the event.

The event also featured Iberia Parish President Larry Richard reading a proclamation declaring October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Richard signed the proclamation, and New Iberia Mayor Freddie DeCourt, Jeanerette Mayor Aprill Foulcard and Delcambre Mayor Pam Blakely signed proclamations affirming the declaration for each of their municipalities as well.