Pocono News Section

Candlelight Vigil Held for Sexual & Physical Abuse Victims

Candlelight Vigil Held for Sexual & Physical Abuse Victims - Monday, November 9, 2009 at 5:34PM EST

Reported by: Eric Deabill
Monday, Nov 9, 2009 @ 05:34pm EST
SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY - Victims of sexual and physical abuse came together Monday night in Lackawanna County. They held a candlelight vigil on courthouse square in Scranton to shine a light on the issue.

The candlelight vigil began just after 5:00 PM. It was sponsored by the Friendship House, which helps many of the victims.

Statistics show nationally that one in four girls and one in six boys will be sexually assaulted.

"It's not necessarily in lower-income families. It is in everyday average neighborhoods," Jennifer Aglialoro said. Aglialoro is with the Friendship House.

Eyewitness News spoke with the mother of a sexual abuse victim. We are not identifying her. She says her five-year-old daughter was the victim of sexual abuse just a few months ago.

"I was never really aware. I would watch the news and my heart would go out to the families of the children that this happened too, but I never really gave it much of a second thought, now it's all I ever see," the mother said.

The mother says counseling provided by the Friendship House has not only helped her daughter but the whole family.

"With my daughter, she didn't know that htis had happened to any other child and the Friendship House has broken ground and let her know that this is an epidemic," the mother said.

Aglialoro says the Friendship House helps more than 100 victims a year.

"We go in and we help them at maybe some of their toughest time," Aglialoro said.

Friendship House workers help sexual assault victims in several different ways. One way is by making shirts to heal.

Anyone who knows a victim of sexual or physical abuse... or who would like more information on resources available... can call the Friendship House at (570) 342-8305.