(PHOTO BY BRENNA WHITE / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
HONORING SURVIVORS … Sarah’s Friends staff and local residents gather to support the Edon Walz Park Tree Dedication Ceremony.
By: Brenna White
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
In the quiet shade of Waltz Park, a red sunset maple was planted not just as a tree, but as a powerful symbol of hope, healing, and resilience.
Sarah’s Friends, a local nonprofit organization committed to empowering victims of domestic violence and all crimes, held a tree planting ceremony at the Shelter House in Waltz Park, April 11th.
The event marked an emotional milestone in a seven-year project that aims to create visible, lasting spaces in every community where survivors are recognized, represented, and most importantly, heard.
“Survivors are everywhere,” says Executive Director, Katie Shaffer. “Just because we’re in Bryan, physically, in an office, doesn’t mean our presence is not here.”
The red sunset maple, chosen for its brilliant color and strength, stands as a living tribute to the courage of survivors. It is also a signal of the organization’s growing missions.
While Sarah’s Friends has long been a beacon for women affected by domestic violence, many people may not know that the nonprofit has expanded its services to include men and victims of all crimes.
This broader reach has been made possible in part by support from the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, which awarded the organization a grant to help continue and grow its essential work.
By covering the cost of the plaques and trees, it has given the residents a beautiful reminder of how to overcome one’s past and grow beyond. The plaque was made from Bryan’s own David’s Designs.
Shaffer thanked the Village of Edon for giving Sarah’s Friends the time and space for such a moment like this. The City of Bryan has already received their tree, with surrounding towns and villages soon to follow. They plan to hold another ceremony next April.
Sarah’s Friends continue to be a steadfast presence in the region, quietly but powerfully transforming pain into purpose, and growing a forest of hope one community at a time.