4-H students raise awareness of child abuse
WARREN — A total of 1,844 pinwheels were placed Sunday outside city hall, representing the number of reported incidents of child abuse in Trumbull County last year.
Members of the Touch of Class 4-H equine group, along with family and friends, volunteered to place the pinwheels on the lawn for Trumbull County Children Services, which will hold the 14th annual Pinwheels for Prevention event 1:30 p.m. Thursday.
In less than 20 minutes, the pinwheels were placed and appeared to be spinning in unison with the wind.
Kiersten Tricker, 18, of Kinsman, president of the 4-H group, said four years ago the group started setting up the pinwheels each spring as a community service project to help TCCS.
The pinwheels will stay up through April to raise awareness of child abuse. Tricker said last year the group set up 2,105 pinwheels for reported incidents in 2017.
“The pinwheels are a good visual representation to show not only us but the entire community about this issue,” Tricker said.
Carlie Ford, 14, of Bristol, said although the community service effort is a fun one, she understands the importance as ”each pinwheel represents an abused child.”
Ellie Moore, 15, of Howland, said she was shocked at the high number of child abuse incidents, adding the pinwheels project is important to raise awareness.
Elaine Brown of Cortland, advisor to Touch of Class, said community service is an important part of 4-H.
“This project is important to raise awareness of child abuse and neglect,” she said.
The group chose city hall because it is close to the court house. Through awareness, the group hopes the number decreases in the future.
Brown said club members help in the community in many ways including boxing and delivering food during Thanksgiving at Warren Family Mission and also collecting coats for the mission. They also help with Toys for Tots, she said.
bcoupland@tribtoday.com