Our Activities & Events

Purple Lights Campaign

Each October, in partnership with First Parish in Wayland and the Lauren Dunne Astley Memorial Fund, the Roundtable illuminates houses of worship and civic buildings in Sudbury and Wayland for Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The lights serve to raise awareness about domestic abuse and support survivors. Private homeowners and small businesses are encouraged to shine a purple light in their own windows. 

Church building illuminated with purple lights at night, featuring a cross on the front and a clock tower.
Nighttime image of a white town hall building illuminated with purple lights, with an American flag flying in front, and another white building nearby with purple lighting.
A house decorated for Halloween with purple-lit windows, a wreath on the front door, and Halloween decorations near the bushes.
The building's exterior is illuminated with purple and pink lighting, accentuating the geometric window and vent patterns.

Shine a Light Vigil

As part of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, the Roundtable joins our local faith communities in a candlelight vigil commemorating those Massachusetts residents who were killed in a domestic or dating abuse-related homicide in the past year.  Speakers at the vigil also encourage people to support abuse survivors they might know and get involved in other awareness-raising activities throughout the year.  

People gathered outside at night, illuminated by purple and blue lights.
A white building illuminated with purple lighting. The front of the building features several windows with purple-lit panes, and there are trees casting shadows on the facade.
Group of women walking outdoors holding a purple banner that reads 'October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month' and 'Shine the Light'.
Three women holding candles during an evening outdoor event.

Holiday Gift Drive

Update in progress! Check back soon.

Valentine’s Bags

Each February, the Roundtable collects items to be distributed to survivors of abuse. Gifts for adults consist primarily of gift cards and personal care items, while those for children include toys, books and crafts. Hand decorated bags are assembled and delivered to local shelters. In past years the Roundtable has provided over 125 bags!

Table filled with gift bags decorated with heart stickers, some with name tags, and stuffed animals.
A room with three women filling gift bags, surrounded by various toys, games, and puzzles.
A group of women shopping at a table full of school supplies, toys, and gifts in a room with large windows.
A collection of toys, teddy bears, and children's books on a table

Shower for Safety

The Shower for Safety is a collection of gift cards and new household items that helps families transitioning from a shelter or moving into a new apartment or house set up their new home. Donation sites are located at: Sudbury Wine & Spirits, 410 Boston Post Road (Route 20) Sudbury and Spirits of Maynard,  4 Digital Way, Suite 3, Maynard.

Collection of household items including blankets, towels, Tide laundry detergent, and assorted cleaning supplies.
A smiling woman standing next to donations, including a Pampers diaper box, bags of toys, and a bag of hats.
Clothing and household items for donation, including towels, blankets, kitchenware, and small appliances.
Table filled with cleaning supplies, household items, and folded towels.

Sudbury Independence Day Parade

To celebrate the nation's independence, we join the Sudbury 4th of July parade to raise awareness about domestic abuse in our community and reach out to people who might not know about support available locally.

Four women standing in front of a decorated vehicle participating in a domestic violence awareness event, with signs and balloons supporting survivors and service providers.
A parade scene with a gray SUV decorated with red, white, and blue balloons and ribbons, driving past a group of people holding banners.
A woman and a man standing outdoors in front of a car with a sign that reads 'Sudbury-Wayland-Lincoln Domestic Violence Roundtable'.
A float decorated with red, white, and blue ribbons and balloons, carrying a sign that reads, 'Subury-Wayland Lincoln Domestic Violence Roundtable, Honoring Survivors and Service Providers,' during a parade or community event.

The Roundtable White Ribbon Group (WRG)

The group was formed in the summer of 2019. Members are men who are interested in helping to end abuse.

MISSION

To address the impact that toxic values such as dominance, aggression, sexual control, and other abuses of power have on us and what they teach about relationships, bodily integrity and autonomy, respect, justice, and equity.

The group aims

  1. To promote healthy and positive attitudes and behaviors

  2. To create an environment free of fear and violence by advancing equity, justice, and dignity.

 The WRG does this by:    

  • Inviting men and boys to come off the sidelines and to step into a partnership with women and girls to end abuse

  • Organizing programs to help educators, youth specialists, community and civic leaders advance their knowledge and skills about how to address these issues on the individual and community level

  • Facilitating community conversations on the subjects of Reimagining Manhood and the social and emotional development of boys

  • Promoting community-wide awareness of the WRG and its work and participating in Roundtable events and programs. The WRG is currently heading up the Purple Lights Campaign in addition to its other activities.

A young man smiling outdoors, raising his arms with a white ribbon beside him.
Three men standing at a presentation for the 2018 White Ribbon Day Program.
A signboard for the White Ribbon Day Program organized by the Sudbury-Wayland-Lincoln Domestic Violence Roundtable with a white ribbon symbol on the bottom right.

The Roundtable Resource Committee

The Roundtable Resource Committee is responsible for the creation, printing, and distribution of information regarding Domestic Violence Resources and the Roundtable. This information is distributed to restrooms in public buildings, local businesses, restaurants, hair and nail salons, medical and dental offices, and faith communities where survivors can easily take them in private. Volunteers are assigned places to visit, and we try to match them with places they normally visit to make it as convenient as possible to help with this very important task. Volunteers are asked to monitor their assigned places and replenish supplies as needed. The time commitment is small in comparison to the large impact these resources provide for those seeking information and resources that can be life saving.

A printed flyer with a blue tree logo at the top left, including a person figure with raised arms as branches. The flyer promotes a Domestic Violence Roundtable with a heading asking if the reader feels safe in their relationship and contains a list of questions related to relationship safety and control.
A flyer for the Domestic Violence Roundtable from Sudbury, Wayland, and Lincoln. It features a blue logo of a person with arms raised inside a stylized tree with many leaves. The flyer asks if you feel unsafe or threatened in your relationship and provides a toll-free emergency hotline number: 800-899-4000. The word "hope" is handwritten in light gray cursive on the top right.

How to Get Involved

Quick and Easy

Less than an hour

  • Subscribe to our newsletter/mailing list

  • Attend monthly meetings (no fees or dues)

    • See the newsletter for meeting topics and activities

  • Drop off hotline cards to businesses, medical and dental practices, public buildings and houses of worship.

  • Follow us on Facebook or Instagram and share our posts

  • Spread the word about our donation drives

A Bit More Commitment

4+ hours

  • Join one of our action committees (see list above)

  • Organize and host an awareness-raising gathering for your workplace, faith community, civic organization, parents organization, book/wine club, neighborhood, group of friends…it’s up to you!

    • The Roundtable will be happy to provide a speaker who can tailor the program to your group’s background and interests

  • Produce our monthly newsletter

  • Install purple lights for Domestic Violence Awareness Month (October) at your home or business

A Bit More Time

1 - 2 hours

  • Transport donations from collection sites to our providers

  • Promote the Roundtable at community events

  • Attend community events

  • Provide photography for Roundtable events

Want to get involved?

Email us and a board member will contact you.