Domestic Violence awareness brings fun to Haynes Park

RIO RANCHO — The annual Haven House Family Fun Day at Haynes Park was a popular stop for families April 12.

While the event was centered around domestic violence awareness, the scene was generally enthusiastic and fun. Dr. Chris Morris, Haven House Board vice president, had some insight on why the day was so important for people of all ages.

“This is an event organized by Haven House, which is our community’s domestic violence shelter and services agency. We’re certainly about domestic violence and how we can support Haven House,” he said. “But also April is child abuse prevention month. Those things kind of, unfortunately, go together.”

Children are often witnesses to domestic violence and are often victims themselves, according to Morris. Either can create trauma for kids living in those circumstances.

“And really, none of us are immune to domestic violence,” he said.

He added that’s why the fun day is so important for bringing awareness to everyone in the community that domestic violence can happen to anyone. There were several vendors and booths to inform people what they can do if they or someone they know are in an abusive situation.

One of the ways Haven House provided a “stress-free” environment for kids attending the event was a massive Easter egg hunt.

“Having events like that that are just fun. And that involves getting outside and moving around. Those are things that foster resilience in all of us, not children only, but children for sure, and so it’s a great event for them to have that kind of historicity fun,” Morris said.

It was also a perfect weather day to have an event like the family fun day. Morris said people get spring fever, and it was a good way to alleviate that.

Haven House director Estella Weitz said each of the booths have worked with the domestic violence shelter in some way. Rio Rancho Police Department, University of New Mexico Health Sciences and the 13th Judicial District’s District Attorney were just a few of the participating booths.

The egg hunt was coupled with the chance for kids to take photos with the Easter Bunny as well.

For more information about Haven House, visit havenhouseinc.org.