Earlier today, the Children’s Advocacy Center of Paris held its annual Pinwheel Garden Planting Ceremony in recognition of April as Child Abuse Awareness Month by planting 290 colorful pinwheels on CAC’s front lawn.
Rebecca Peevy, CAC of Paris talks to a group of about 50 about 2021’s annual Pinwheel Garden ceremony. Trent Reed/MyParisTexas.com
“The pinwheel serves as the national symbol for child abuse prevention,” Rebecca Peevy, CAC of Paris’ Executive Director said during the ceremony’s opening. “It is a reflection of hope, health and safety – what we all desire for children throughout Lamar/Red River counties and beyond.”
The pinwheels’ various colors signify the type of abuse the 290 children CAC served in 2020, demonstrating “our hope that they will find healing and new beginnings.”
Each pinwheels’ color and how many children represented include:
- 153 red – sexual abuse;
- 49 blue – physical abuse;
- 43 purple – child witness;
- 30 orange – neglect; and
- 15 green – drug endangered children.
As Peevy said, just before the about-50 guests and slew of children began planting pinwheels, those impacted by abuse are not alone. CAC of Paris has helped children and their families for more than 20 years – seen and heard by the organization’s 15 multi-disciplinary team partner agencies throughout the state of Texas.
Peevy said the CAC and its partner agencies investigate and prosecute child abuse cases while continuing its support of the 4,000 children and their families.
“Our team is committed to addressing the complex issue of child abuse in Texas,” she said. “But we can’t do it alone; it takes all of us. From knowing the signs and symptoms of abuse to having courageous conversations about this issue with adults and children in your life, everyone can join our collective effort to protect children in our community.”
Peevy said one in every five children will be affected by some type of sexual abuse before adulthood, and “we also know that only one in 10 will tell.
“These pinwheels represent HOPE for child abuse victims as they come out of the darkest moments of their lives,” she said. “These pinwheels also represent HOPE in a brighter future for these children – one that is carefree and safe.”
Trinity Christian Academy’s Kindergarten class also presented the Children’s Advocacy Center with several blankets.
Trinity Christian Academy’s Kindergarten class helped collect blankets for CAC of Paris’ rainbow room, which will then be gifted to any child at CAC who needs a comforting “Blanket Budy.”
