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SUMMARY:Safe Walk Turns a Morning at Waterford’s Duck Pond Into a Stand Against Abuse
DESCRIPTION:Safe Walk Turns a Morning at Waterford’s Duck Pond Into a Stand Against Abuse. Oct. 4\, Safe Futures brings families\, friends\, and community teams together for its annual walk during National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. \nThe walk itself begins at 9 a.m.\, but this is more than a group making a lap around the park. \nBeginning at 8 a.m.\, Arnold Holm Jr. Memorial Park and the surrounding Waterford Duck Pond area become a small community gathering with a craft fair featuring local vendors\, basket raffles\, breakfast food trucks\, and activities surrounding the walk. \nThe goal is both symbolic and practical. \nSafe Futures hopes the event will raise at least $50\,000 to support free and confidential services for people in Southeastern Connecticut affected by domestic violence\, sexual assault\, stalking\, trafficking\, elder abuse\, and child abuse. \nThe Organization Behind the Walk\nSafe Futures is based in New London\, but its work extends throughout Southeastern Connecticut. \nFor someone experiencing abuse\, the organization can be a point of contact at virtually every stage of a crisis. \nSafe Futures operates a confidential hotline 24 hours a day\, 365 days a year. Its services include emergency shelter and safe-hotel placements\, transitional and supportive housing\, individual counseling\, court advocacy\, child and family advocacy\, assistance for victims working with law enforcement and prevention programs in area schools. \nThose services are provided free and confidentially. \nThat gives the Safe Walk a different significance than a typical Sunday-morning fundraiser. \nThe money raised doesn’t disappear into an abstract national campaign. It supports an organization working with people in this region who may need somewhere safe to sleep\, someone to accompany them through court\, help making a safety plan or simply a confidential person to call. \nWalk Together — or Build a Team\nAdults can register for $25\, while children under 18 and students participate free. \nWalkers can come individually\, gather family and friends or create fundraising teams. Participants receive fundraising tools through the event registration system\, and anyone who raises at least $100 receives a Safe Futures T-shirt. \nSame-day registration is available beginning at 8 a.m. \nThe morning’s craft fair also opens at 8\, giving people time to visit local vendors\, grab breakfast from the food trucks and enter the basket raffles before the walk gets underway. \nThen look for the purple balloon arch. \nThat’s the starting line\, positioned at the Waterford Public Library near the Duck Pond. Waterford Police will be on hand to assist pedestrians crossing the surrounding roads. \nWhy October Matters\nSafe Walk is deliberately held at the beginning of October. \nNational Domestic Violence Awareness Month is observed throughout the month\, with organizations across Connecticut holding walks\, vigils and community events intended both to support survivors and to make information about domestic violence and available services more visible. \nSafe Futures expands its mission beyond domestic violence alone. Its programs serve people affected by sexual assault\, stalking\, trafficking\, elder abuse and child abuse as well. \nAnd while Sunday’s event is designed to be welcoming and family-friendly\, the reason everyone is gathering at the Duck Pond is serious. \nSometimes awareness means knowing that help exists before you or someone you know needs it. \nSafe Futures’ confidential hotline is available around the clock at 860-701-6001. Connecticut’s statewide Safe Connect service can also be reached by calling or texting 888-774-2900. \nA Walk With a $50\,000 Destination\nSafe Futures has set a fundraising target of at least $50\,000 for this year’s walk. \nBut participation doesn’t require raising hundreds of dollars or assembling a large team. Someone can register\, show up and walk. Families can bring children. Students can participate free. Others can support friends who are fundraising\, shop the craft fair or donate without walking. \nParking will be available nearby at the Waterford Community Center\, Town Hall\, Waterford High School and Civic Triangle Park. The Waterford Public Library lot is reserved for craft-fair vendors and volunteers and will not be available for general parking \nOne other thing to leave home: the dog. Only service dogs and police dogs are permitted at Safe Walk. \nThe craft fair and registration open at 8 a.m.\, and the walk steps off at 9. \nFor Safe Futures\, however\, the destination is considerably farther away: a community where fewer people need the services the organization provides every day. \nMore information is available at the Event Website link below. To register\, click the Event Registration link below. \nDetails\nEvent: Safe Walk 2026\nDate: Sunday\, Oct. 4\, 2026\nRegistration & Craft Fair: 8 a.m.\nWalk: 9 a.m.\nLocation: Arnold Holm Jr. Memorial Park / Waterford Duck Pond\nAddress: 37 Rope Ferry Road\, Waterford\, CT 06385\nAdmission: $25 adults; free for children under 18 and students\nSame-Day Registration: Available beginning at 8 a.m.\nFundraising Goal: $50\,000\nFundraising Incentive: Raise $100 or more and receive a Safe Futures T-shirt\nActivities: Community walk\, local craft vendors\, basket raffles and breakfast food trucks\nParking: Waterford Community Center\, Town Hall\, Waterford High School and Civic Triangle Park; no attendee parking at Waterford Public Library\nStarting Line: Purple balloon arch near the Waterford Public Library\nDogs: Service and police dogs only\nBeneficiary: Safe Futures\nSafe Futures 24/7 Confidential Hotline: 860-701-6001\nCT Safe Connect: Call or text 888-774-2900 \n  \n  \nFeatured image is an artistic representation inspired by the event and may not depict the actual people\, location\, or activities shown.
URL:https://thectbeacon.com/event/safe-walk-turns-a-morning-at-waterfords-duck-pond-into-a-stand-against-abuse/
LOCATION:Arnold Holm Jr. Memorial Park / Waterford Duck Pond\, 37 Ropeferry Road\, Waterford\, 06385\, United States
CATEGORIES:Arnold Holm Jr. Memorial Park / Waterford Duck Pons
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