Md. residents kickoff child abuse awareness campaign

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month.In Wicomico County,  residents and officials have kicked off a campaign in an effort to put an end to what they call a silent epidemic.

Sunday afternoon, dozens of residents planted a sea of blue pinwheels in Salisbury. This is part of a campaign called Life Crisis Center's Pinwheels For Protection, which is a local effort to spotlight the fight against child abuse.

"It is damaging in a way that we can't even imagine, it continues throughout the child's life," says Abby Marsh, the Director of Legal Services at Life Crisis Center.

Courtney Geiser, the organizer of this campaign says the pinwheels represent the 500 child abuse cases that are reported in Wicomico County each year.

"It stands for the innocence of children, and when you drive by these they sparkle in the sun and it's pretty much an eye-catcher," says Geiser.

Geiser says the pinwheels are meant to spark curiosity, but also  encourage folks to have open conversations about child abuse.

"Child abuse does not discriminate, it can happen to anyone,"says Geiser.

Which Geiser says, it is something that has affected her loved ones. Through this experience, she hopes to not only bring awareness, but also education to those around her.

"Have parents talk to their kids and explain the warning signs, the symptoms, how to report it," says Geiser.
 
"We are going to break the silence, and we're no longer going to protect a predator, we are going to protect our children," says Marsh.

Folks can see the pinwheels outside the Salisbury  Moose Lodge, which is on the corner of Snow Hill Road and Beaglin Park Drive.

Monday afternoon, the City of Salisbury will be planting pinwheels in the downtown plaza at around 6:30PM. There will also be a Break the Silence 5k Color Run Sunday, on April 30th, 10AM, at the Moose Lodge in Salisbury.

For information about the services offered at Life Crisis Center click here.