Businesses Needed to Display Pinwheels for Child Abuse Prevention Month

By Alyssa Schnugg
News Editor
alyssa.schnugg@hottytoddy.com

The act of making a pinwheel move with a light blow is often a child’s first lesson of science and magical wonderment. For the month of April, the ever-magical pinwheel will serve as a symbol of hope, health and safety during Child Abuse Prevent Month.

In Oxford and Lafayette County, businesses can help support the Family Crisis Services of Northwest Mississippi in its mission to serve local children affected by child abuse and neglect, sexual assault, domestic violence and homicide by becoming a sponsor and displaying blue pinwheels provided by the organization.

Pinwheels serve as the national symbol for child abuse prevention.

According to Family Crisis Services, experts estimate that 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys are sexually abused before their 18th birthday; 1 in 5 children are sexually solicited while on the internet; and the median age for reported sexual abuse is 9 years old.

Family Crisis Services is encouraging the LOU business community to get involved in bringing this serious issue to light by covering the community with pinwheels.

Sponsorship levels begin and $50 and go up to $500 or more.

Stand up against child abuse $500: Official sponsor of Child Abuse Prevention Month, Recognition on all Child Abuse Prevention events and media, Large Pinwheel garden in front of the business with a Child Abuse Prevention yard sign.

Let your Pinwheel Garden shine $250: Large Pinwheel garden and Child Abuse Prevention yard sign, Social media recognition.

Give Hope to a child $150: Small Pinwheel garden Child Abuse Prevention yard sign, Social media recognition

Let your Pinwheel spin $100: Large Pinwheel Planter in front of business, Social media recognition.

A smile for a child $50: Small Pinwheel Planter and sign in business. Social media recognition

“We provide the pinwheels, come set them up the first week of April and will come to take them down the end of April,” said Mary-Margaret Chaffe, advocate and program assistant with Family Crisis Center of Northwest Mississippi.

Family Crisis Services provides victim advocacy, on-site counseling, a 24-hour crisis hotline, forensic interviewing, prevention education and community-wide awareness events.

Sponsorship forms are due by March 25.

For more information, Family Crisis Services of Northwest Mississippi at 662-234-9929 or email mchaffe@oxfordadvocacy.org.