GREENFIELD – Blue pinwheels promoting a safe and joyful childhood will be popping up throughout the community in the coming weeks.
Hancock 4 Kids will host its annual Pinwheel Community Event for Prevention April 4, and volunteers are also encouraging people to wear blue and stop by March 31 to pick up a free pinwheel.
“The main focus of the pinwheels is a happy childhood, so we’d like people to be aware of child abuse and neglect and know that the pinwheels represent a happy childhood,” said Diane Burklow.
Burklow is co-director of Hancock 4 Kids, alongside Mikel Theobald. The nonprofit organization focuses on education and awareness events for the prevention of child abuse.
National Child Abuse Prevention Month is in April, so to kick off the month Hancock 4 Kids is inviting the community to wear blue and pick up a free pinwheel between noon and 2 p.m. March 31 at 312 E. Main St., Greenfield.
Burklow said they’d like to see pinwheel gardens pop up throughout the county, along with signs to spread the word about how to report suspected child abuse or neglect.
“We want people to be aware that they can do that anonymously, if they suspect anything,” Burklow said.
Hancock 4 Kids will create blue pinwheel garden displays at the Hancock County Courthouse and both branches of the Hancock County Public Library.
On April 4 is the PInwheel Community Event for Prevention. The evening of awareness, children’s crafts and games will include free food from 5-7 p.m. April 4 in the Hancock County Public Library’s Community Room, 900 W. McKenzie Road, Greenfield.
Mayor Chuck Fewell is expected to be on hand to read a proclamation about the month, and the community can join together to plant pinwheels on the front lawn of the library.
The event has become an annual tradition for the community, Burklow said, and later in April Hancock 4 Kids hosts an appreciation dinner for public safety officials who help children in the community.
The community event April 4 is co-hosted by Firefly Children and Family Alliance, Zoey’s Place, the Indiana Department of Child Services and the HCPL. For updates and details, visit facebook.com/hancockcountychildren.
