A community center is spearheading a local effort to fight domestic violence while helping to support a local family suffering in its aftermath.

The Booker T. Washington Community Center will participate for the next few weeks in a national white ribbon campaign to raise awareness on the issue. And donations from participants will be used in a charity for the children who lost their parents last weekend in what some have called a domestic violence-related incident.

Monique Wright-Williams, who is organizing the drive, said Friday that BTW staff and volunteers have made three different kinds of white ribbons for people to purchase and wear. Upon donations of $1, $2 to 9 or $10-plus, people will also receive a card with a commitment to help deter domestic violence and contacts for local resources, Wright-Williams said.

The center has also ordered a number of white bracelets for participants which should arrive within a few days, she said.

“We're asking people to wear the ribbon and post the card someplace where people can see it or ask them about it,” Wright-Williams said. “We have unloaded quite a few already.”

There will be a 6 p.m. forum April 22 at the center on domestic violence that will involve local law enforcement, center staff and representatives from other domestic violence organizations. Those who are interested in participating should contact the BTW center to register.

Wright-Williams said the topic of domestic violence is especially pertinent right now. Last weekend, Auburn resident Jerry White shot and killed his estranged wife, Lisa White, before taking his own life the next day. Local law enforcement officials said after the incident that there was a history of domestic violence leading up to the shootings.

The money raised through this campaign will go toward the children of the couple, Wright-Williams said. People can also send donations to the Lisa White Memorial Fund, AmeriCu Credit Union, 217 Grant Ave., Auburn NY 13021.

But the issue is also in the national spotlight right now, as pop star Chris Brown is accused of beating love interest and starlet Rihanna. It is an unfortunate coincidence for these events to coincide, Wright-Williams said, but it is also an opportunity to spread the word about warning signs and resources.

“This is an attempt to get commitments from people in the community in terms of trying to keep a tragedy like last week's from happening again,” Wright-Williams said.