PORT TOWNSEND — Last year’s coincidence has become this year’s intentional combining of efforts for Dove House and the YMCA.
Last year, the “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” event sponsored by Dove House — intended to raise awareness about sexual violence through having men take a stroll in high heels — and the Jefferson County Family YMCA’s “Dine Out For Kids” both fell on the same day.
“It was an accident that both were on the same day, but it worked out well,” said Kim Hammers, who heads the YMCA Building Futures Mentoring Program.
“People came to march and then decided to go out to dinner, so we had a lot of people at the restaurants.”
This year, both events will be Wednesday, April 27, with the walk beginning at 6 p.m. and participating restaurants operating between 11 a.m. and 9 p.m.
The cooperation, while accidental, makes both events more effective, said Marquita Thompson, prevention specialist for Dove House, which houses both offices for the Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Program of Jefferson County and transitional housing for people who have survived such violence.
“If we combine our resources, we can reach more people at a time,” Thompson said.
The YMCA program has recruited 22 local restaurants to pledge 20 percent of their proceeds to support the mentoring program.
The program raised about $7,000 in 2010, Hammers said.
“Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” — a 10-year national event — was observed for the first time in Port Townsend last year, when it drew about 100 people.
Most of the participants were local men, who marched from the Ferry Dock to the Northwest Maritime Center wearing high heels that were supplied by Dove House.
The idea is to make a statement against sexual and gender violence, Dove House Program Director Nicole Barnard said.
Dove House supplies the shoes, which are contributed and purchased at thrift stores, she said.
The smallest women’s high heels that fit men are usually a size 10.
“A lot of men need at least a size 14, and those can be hard to find,” Barnard said.
About 50 pairs of shoes are in a closet at Dove House after being sorted into pairs.
Barnard said the local course is only a half-mile, “but that’s still enough to get the message across.”
While donations will be solicited at the event, Barnard said it is intended more for raising awareness.
“We want to get men on board 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.
“Last year, there was one guy who was walking stiffly and carefully at the beginning, but by the end, he was doing a lot better and using his arms to keep his balance,” she said.
Seth Hagger of Port Townsend marched last year and plans to do so again.
“It was a bit unusual to be doing this, but it brings attention to the issue,” he said.
“A lot of people saw us on the street and were drawn in enough to ask what was going on.”
For information about the “Dine Out” event, visit www.jeffersoncountyymca.org, phone 360-385-5811,or phone individual local restaurants to see if they are participating.
Those interested in the “Walk a Mile” event can phone 360-385-5292 or just show up at the parking lot near the ferry terminal between 5:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. April 27.
Participants can choose from the available shoes, or they can bring their own, Barnard said.
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.