The Woodmen Tower is shining orange tonight, celebrating the Wear Orange event that brought the community together for a cause everybody can get behind.
"It's a tough conversation to start but acknowledging what's happening in our community, we're here we want to listen to survivors, we want to listen to their families. How do we make our community safer,” says Megan Gentrup, Wear Orange Nebraska, chair.
The event at Columbus Park was in solidarity with hundreds of similar ones across the country.
"We see things in LA, we see things in New York and we think 'oh there's nothing like that here' but we are here and we want people to know we're here,” says Gentrup.
Organizers were joined by other community groups such as Latino Center of the Midlands, the Be Smart program and Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Midlands.
"It creates awareness. In Omaha it's a small community but at the same time there's a lot going on. The safety of the community and the kids that are playing parks such as these it's just necessary these events take place,” says Lindsey Williams, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Midlands, Recruitment specialist.
The mood proved to be more like a community barbecue complete with games and socializing. Still, the gravity of the issue caused many to say more needs to be done.
"We can't start if we don't talk about it and I think this is the first step is talking about it and creating that awareness before we're able to put stops to it,” says Gabriela Martinez, outreach coordinator, Grief’s Journey.
