36 trees on Kirkwood and College are wrapped in color and warmth as a part of the Middle Way House’s annual public art display–Wrapped in Love– that raises awareness and funding for survivors of domestic violence, sexual violence, and human trafficking by teaming up with local businesses and fabric artists to adorn the downtown trees with fabric.
The fabric artists designed the tree sweaters, and each tree sweater is sponsored by a business, person or organization. The colorful sweaters raise awareness, and the sponsors of the trees generate funding for survivors of domestic and sexual violence. The sweaters went on display on October 5th, and they will be up until March, 15th to show the Bloomington community supports survivors. For a map of the location of the sweaters, click here.
Sarah Hunt, the Outreach Communications Coordinator of Middle Way House, said everybody is affected by this issue whether they are aware of it or not. She said that sexual violence, domestic violence and human trafficking affect everyone because everybody knows a survivor.
Debra Morrow, the Executive Director of Middle Way House, is a survivor and former client of Middle Way House. She went to support groups and lived in the transitional housing called The Rise provided by the Middle Way House. Morrow has been an employee of Middle Way House for nine years, and this is her second year as the executive director.
While each sweater has its own unique design, every sweater has the Middle Way House crisis line number on it. Morrow said she thinks the most powerful part of the campaign is that somebody could be walking down the street and see that crisis number and have a moment where they think, maybe they’ll reach out for help.
Hunt said it is so critical that society believes and supports survivors right now, and Wrapped in Love is a reminder of what that support looks like by raising awareness and funding for survivors. Hunt said each of the trees is a pillar of hope, support or whatever a survivor needs it to be to know that they are living in a community that is safe and full of people that care.
For more information on the Middle Way House and its resources, visit middlewayhouse.org
