As Stevenson Elementary School teachers and staff return from Spring Break, they will find blue ribbons placed in all their mailboxes. Family Resources and Youth Services Coordinator Carol Kees encourages each to wear these ribbons attached to their name tags every day during this month of April.
She said, “It will look great the first day, and as the days go by, it will become tattered and torn, worn and faded - much like so many of the bodies of the children these ribbons represent.”
Last year in Logan County alone, there were 386 accepted reports of abuse, neglect, law-enforcement assisted reports of sexual abuse, and court-ordered investigations. Of those 386 reports, 100 children were found to be abused, neglected, or required intervention of some kind.
At the old courthouse, you will see 386 blue ribbons representing those reports and 100 pinwheels representing those children. Like the blue ribbons that teachers and staff are asked to wear, they are so pretty right now, but by the end of the month, they won't be quite so pretty anymore.
The story of the blue ribbon began with Mrs. Bonnie Finney, a Virginia grandmother, who gave us the symbol now used nationwide as a reminder of Child Abuse Awareness.
Mrs. Kees also stated that the K-Kids will still accept donations for the Teddy Bear Round-up through Thursday, April 13. This Teddy Bear Round-up is to assist with children in the circumstances represented by the 100 pinwheels. A great number of Teddy Bears and stuffed animals were received, but there is a need for more child-size plush fleece throws.
All donations will be presented to Missy Maxwell Perry from the Department of Protection and Permanency on Friday, April 14.
Mrs. Kees expressed great thanks to all who have already donated. She stated, “Your kindness will make a difference to a child whose world has been turned upside down, a child who has experienced things no child should ever know, and although it won't change the circumstances, it may help bring comfort having something to hold.”