By BOB SHRALUKA
WZBD.com
Decatur Mayor Dan Rickord has proclaimed April as Child Abuse and Prevention Month in the city, an annual designation brought to city council by SAFE, a group of local volunteers
SAFE representatives Sandy Brown, Abbey Martin, and Cindy Thieme were on hand at the latest council meeting to put forth the request and hear Mayor Dan Rickord read the proclamation.
They were accompanied by a sweet little lady, Charly Bonte (Martin’s granddaughter), who passed out pinwheels to council members and officials.
In 2008, Prevent Child Abuse America introduced the Pinwheels for Prevention campaign.
“What our research showed, and what our experiences since then have reinforced,” the organization said, “is that people respond positively to pinwheels, which represent childlike whimsy and lightheartedness and our vision for a world where all children grow up happy, healthy, and prepared to succeed in supportive families and communities.”
SAFE (Supporting All Families Everyday) in Adams County has been a Chartered Council since 2014.
Monthly meetings are held the second Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. at the Adams County Healthy Families facility, 829 E Monroe Street in Decatur. Sandy Brown is the president.
CARNIVAL COMING: The ninth annual SAFE carnival is scheduled for Saturday, April 20, at Riverside Center, from 9 to 11 a.m.
Free games and snacks will be part of the festivities and admission will be free. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Ring and bag toss, bowling, golf, crafts, Plinko, cookie walk and a raffle (50 cents per ticket) are on the day’s agenda.