Tribune staff reports

Prevent Child Abuse Indiana and Caring 4 Kids Council plan to conduct a pinwheel planting event Monday in Seymour.

The activity is to remind people that preventing child abuse by helping communities and families create healthy, nurturing environments for children is one of the best investments Indiana can make.

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month.

“We want community members to join us to honor those who work tirelessly to prevent child abuse throughout Jackson County,” said Kate Garrity, co-chairwoman of the Caring 4 Kids Council.

Volunteers will plant pinwheels at 12:30 p.m. in the green space on the northwest side of the intersection of U.S. 50 (Tipton Street) and O’Brien Street.

“We anticipate that with the highly visible location, people will pause and consider what they can do to keep children from being abused or neglected,” Garrity said. “We invite all community members to come out on Monday during their lunch break.”

Charlotte Moss, co-chairwoman, said the council also thought it was important for students to understand they can be a part of prevention efforts.

Pinwheel gardens will be planted at Brownstown Central Middle School, Brownstown Central High School, Crothersville High School, Medora High School, Seymour Middle School and Seymour High School, Moss said.

Robyn Dykstra, director of the Jackson County Office of Child Services, said it takes a village to raise children, but it also takes a village to protect them.

“It is crucial that the community is involved and working together on prevention to ensure families have the tools and resources needed to be safe and successful,” she said.

[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”If you go” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]

What: National Child Abuse Prevention awareness event

When: 12:30 p.m. Monday

Where: Tipton and O’Brien streets in Seymour

[sc:pullout-text-end]