Montgomery County Agency Raises Child Abuse Awareness In A Very Visual Way
By Syma Chowdhry
NORRISTOWN, Pa. (CBS) -- These aren't any ordinary pinwheels, it is a symbol.
Four hundred and forty seven blue pinwheels are being planted in a garden next to the Mission Kids Child Advocacy Center in Norristown.
Executive Director Abbie Newman says, "Child abuse doesn't know any race, religion or zip codes."
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month.
Each pinwheel represents a child abuse victim seen at the center last year.
Newman says, "It's a symbol of hope and of childhood and of something that children like and we have to remember the children who are so often forgotten in our communities."
Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman is the co-founder of Mission Kids.
"As a prosecutor I saw so many kids who been hurt by abuse and then our system hurt them even more and the child advocacy center was my way to try to stop that pain and to help them heal."
Mission Kids helps sexually abused children talk about their trauma while helping law enforcement official obtain information needed to prosecute the perpetrator.
For county officials, the goal is to end crimes against children.
Montgomery County Commissioner Josh Shapiro says, "To help these children and those who perpetuate these horrors against children are out behind bars, that is down thing I think we can all be proud of, the collective way which we've worked hard to address child abuse."
Mission Kids is a non-profit organization.
For more information, visit: www.missionkidscac.org/
A list of the items that are most needed:
1. Paper plates, cups and utensils
2. Gently Used Books for both older and younger children
3. Juice Boxes
4. Small individual bottled water
5. Individually Wrapped Healthy Snacks
6. Paper Towels
7. Sanitizing Wipes
8. Gift Cards for local supermarkets, to support team and client meetings.
