Nonprofits that prevent child abuse recognized during pinwheel ceremony on Hannibal riverfront

HANNIBAL, Mo. – Nearly 60 community members were present at a community pinwheel ceremony organized by United Way of the Mark Twain Area on Monday, April 7 at the Hannibal riverfront in recognition of Child Abuse Prevention Month.

Leaders of local nonprofits supported by United Way that prevent child abuse, respond to child abuse and support children who have been victims of abuse or neglect shared about their programs.

One of the programs highlighted was the local Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program through Douglass Community Services which receives monthly financial support from United Way.

Through CASA, trained community members are appointed by a judge to advocate for the best interests of children in foster care who have experienced abuse or neglect, ensuring they have a voice in court and access to necessary services.

Gay Phillips, a volunteer through CASA, shared about her journey volunteering through the organization for the past 10 years. She shared about the first children she represented through the court system and how she advocated for what they needed throughout their time in foster care.

The two boys were less than 2 years old and had been extremely neglected, which still impacts their functioning 10 years later. Gay was sworn in to represent their best interests through the court system in her role as a CASA volunteer. She got to know them and their situation, and she advocated for their best interests in court. She saw them through their adoption with a local family, and she still advocates and connects with the boys to this day.

Attendees were provided the opportunity to put pinwheels in the ground. The pinwheel is the national symbol for child abuse prevention. It signifies the playfulness and joy that childhood should contain. The pinwheel is used to raise awareness and promote positive childhoods.

At the Hannibal riverfront, 197 pinwheels were placed in the ground. That number reflects the number of children in foster care in the 10th Circuit District in Northeast Missouri, which consists of Marion, Monroe, and Ralls counties. That figure is the second highest per capita in Missouri.

Denise Damron, executive director of United Way of the Mark Twain Area, said the pinwheels represented a child within the community. She stressed that is each community member’s responsibility to keep kids safe. As a thank you, flowers were given out to all in attendance who work to prevent and respond to child abuse.