PRESS RELEASE
The Lighthouse Shines Light on Child Abuse Prevention
GASTON COUNTY, N.C. – April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and The Lighthouse: Children’s Advocacy Center is planning an awareness campaign that focuses on prevention and pushing resources and information into the community via social media.
The campaign also includes placing blue Mylar pinwheels outside some of the County buildings, including at the Administration Building in downtown Gastonia. The blue pinwheel represents innocence and reflects the bright future all children deserve.
Child Abuse Prevention Month was established in 1983, and the Lighthouse provides community prevention education specifically focused on child sexual abuse prevention, body safety, internet safety, and human trafficking prevention. According to national data, one in 10 children will be sexually abused before their 18th birthday. From 2019 to March 25, 2021, the Lighthouse has served nearly 700 alleged victims of abuse.
The pinwheel gardens will be located at Gastonia Police Department, Gaston County Police Department, Mt. Holly Police Department, Gaston County DHHS and Gaston County Administration Building. Blue lights will be displayed at the Gaston County Courthouse and Sheriff’s Office.
For more information about The Lighthouse, go to www.thelighthousecac.com or visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/thelighthousegaston.
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