Love Shouldn't Hurt - Grace Smith House Bringing Awareness to Teen Dating Violence

Student members of the Grace Smith House United Peer Council at the sixth annual “Love Shouldn’t Hurt” conference on March 11, 2019.

High school students from 10 different Dutchess County school districts recently attended Grace Smith House’s seventh annual “Love Shouldn’t Hurt” conference on Monday, March 9, 2020. The daylong event brought students together at Dutchess Community College for interactive workshops and discussions on breaking the cycle of teen dating violence.

“The Love Shouldn’t Hurt conference gives students and staff a space to learn and gain knowledge about dating violence and resources available to young adults in the community,” said Grace Smith House Community Educator Megan Bajana. 

School staff participate in a discussion about teen dating violence at Grace Smith House’s sixth annual “Love Shouldn’t Hurt” conference on March 11, 2019.

Across the nation, 1 in 3 teens will experience emotional, physical, verbal or sexual violence while in a relationship. Teenagers who experience dating violence are at greater risk of experiencing domestic violence in adulthood.

About 170 students and staff from the Arlington, Beacon, Dover, Hyde Park, Pine Plains, Poughkeepsie, Red Hook, Rhinebeck, Wappingers and Webutuck districts, along with Dutchess BOCES, attended this year’s conference.

The conference is generously funded through a Henry Nias Foundation grant. Speakers included Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro and Senator Sue Serino.

The nonprofit Grace Smith House provides residential and nonresidential services to victims of domestic violence and their children in Dutchess County. For more information, to seek help or advice, visit www.gracesmithhouse.org or call the 24-hour hotline at (845) 471-3033.

Grace Pumpkin Parade To Highlight Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Attendees of the 2018 Grace Pumpkin Parade march into Waryas Park in the City of Poughkeepsie. (Courtesy/Grace Smith House, Inc.)

Grace Smith House will be hosting their annual Grace Pumpkin Parade in Poughkeepsie on Saturday, October 19, from 11 am to 3 pm; lineup for the parade starts at 10:30 am. Go ahead and don a costume, march, build a float, or just enjoy the day’s festivities as you show the community that you reject family violence.

Parade Route

The parade begins at Pulaski Park, down by the Walkway Over The Hudson, and will make its way through the city up to Main Street, ending at Waryas Park. There will be plenty of spots to spectate and cheer on the ghouls marching to empower survivors of domestic violence.

What is Grace Smith House?

Since 1981, Grace Smith House has provided residential and non-residential assistance for victims of domestic violence and their children. They provide emergency shelter, counseling, transitional housing, advocacy, legal assistance, preventative education and more to residents of Dutchess County, NY, and surrounding areas.

Their crisis hotline is available 24/7 at (845) 471-3033. Visit their website at www.gracesmithhouse.org.

Adopt A Family - Make Magic For Children Staying At Grace Smith House

During the holiday season, Grace Smith House opens its doors to countless survivors of domestic violence and their families. They need your help to provide their shelter families with holiday joy. Consider adopting a shelter family for this holiday season. You can be matched with a family and their recommended gift list, and the matching process is going on now. See here for more information on how to apply.

Gifts must be new items. Grace Smith House asks that all gifts be delivered wrapped and tagged with the family members’ names (if provided on the form), and arrive at their offices no later than Friday, December 14, to ensure delivery to the appropriate family in time for the holidays. Please call well in advance to schedule an appointment for delivery.

Grace Smith House is a religiously and ethnically diverse community, hosting families from all walks of life. They ask that you consider donating toys and items that are inclusive and open to all members of their family. The shelter is often lacking in items such as African-American body and hair care products, nonwhite dolls, nondenominational gift wrapping, etc. “We are very grateful for our donors’ generosity and their consideration for the diverse backgrounds and beliefs of our residents,” as stated on their website.