Spring has sprung; flowers are blooming; and pinwheels are popping up all over!
Gardens of bright blue pinwheels are being “planted” in numerous locations around Cumberland County in honor of April as Child Abuse Prevention Month. The pinwheel serves as a reminder of a happy, safe and carefree childhood, one that every child deserves. Adopted by Prevent Child Abuse America, more than a million pinwheels have been displayed nationwide since April 2008 when the campaign began. Locally, the Child Advocacy Center is coordinating with area schools, organizations and agencies to sponsor the gardens.
The Child Advocacy Center (CAC) hosted a Pinwheel Garden planting on March 30 in honor of the 595 children served by the center in fiscal year 2011. The pinwheels will remain on display throughout the month of April.
Other pinwheel garden locations will include:
- Cumberland County Schools Administrative Office
- Womack Army Medical Center
- Cumberland County Partnership for Children
- Building Blocks Early Education Centers
- Holy Trinity Episcopal Church Preschool
- St. Ann’s Catholic Church Preschool
- Highland Presbyterian Church Preschool
- Haymount United Methodist Church Preschool
- Cumberland County Mental Health Center
- Cumberland County Department of Social Services (Main Office & Spring Lake Office)
- Fayetteville Police Department
- Hope Mills Police Department
- Fayetteville Family Justice Center
As another reminder of Child Abuse Prevention Month, volunteers from the Child Advocacy Center will decorate many of the downtown black flower pots with giant, bright blue bows during the last week of April, just in time for Fourth Friday and the Dogwood Festival. The Child Advocacy Center will also host “Fun Spot for Kids” on April 28 from 2 – 5 p.m., as one of the official Dogwood Festival events. Free activities for families will be provided.
