PICKENS COUNTY — More than 60 spinning pinwheel gardens have been planted throughout the county to raise awareness for Child Abuse Prevention Month.

According to statistics, a child is abused or neglected every 46 minutes in South Carolina. The “Pinwheels of Prevention” represent the happiness that every child deserves.

Pickens County First Steps has served as a leader with the Upstate’s Project Pinwheel, which is now referred to as Pickens Child Abuse Prevention Month, by raising awareness and planting pinwheel gardens with its many community partners.

This year the organization joined with The Parenting Place as charter Prevention Partners of Prevent Child Abuse South Carolina.

Together they are leading 2016 Child Abuse Prevention Month activities in and around the Pickens area.

Last year a shipping strike stranded thousands of the blue pinwheels in customs out West but Marian Vischer of Pickens County First Steps was happy to report there had been no snags this time around.

“The pinwheels are here, and they’ll be up in April,” she said during a previous interview.

In addition to planting your own pinwheel garden, the third annual Partners for Prevention Gathering will be taking place Friday, April 8, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at The Mill Church, 158 Woodrow St. in Pickens.

The luncheon is hosted by Behavioral Heath Services, Pickens County DSS, Friends of Pickens County Guardian ad Litem, The Parenting Place and Pickens County First Steps.

A pinwheel garden will be planted following the meeting.

Contact Pickens County First Steps at 864-654-3000 for more information.

According to statistics, a child is abused or neglected every 46 minutes in the state of South Carolina. The “Pinwheels of Prevention” represent the happiness that every child deserves.
http://pickenssentinel.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/web1_253.jpgAccording to statistics, a child is abused or neglected every 46 minutes in the state of South Carolina. The “Pinwheels of Prevention” represent the happiness that every child deserves. Kasie Strickland | The Easley Progress
Friday luncheon planned to celebrate

By Kasie Strickland

kstrickland@civitasmedia.com

Reach Kasie Strickland at 864-855-0355.