If you’ve driven down North Main, it’s hard to miss our new “temporary flowers”….blue and silver pinwheels…at the North Main signs at the beginning and end of North Main and at the Rotary Park sign by the ball field. As a non-profit, 
NMCA partnered with the Pinwheel Project and received over 100 pinwheels to place in spots in the neighborhood where they will be noticed and raise interest.
As I was out placing them, I had two folks stop and ask me “what are the pinwheels for ?” So, it’s obvious that not everyone knows about Project Pinwheel. Children’s Trust is the state chapter of Prevent Child Abuse America and leads the Pinwheels for Prevention campaign in SC. It’s a coalition of over 300 partners across the Upstate, coordinated with leadership provided by Greenville First Steps with support from GHS Children’s Hospital. The blue and silver pinwheel is the national symbol for child abuse prevention month.
The ripple effect of abuse and trauma impacts everyone but has a particular impact on our schools. Research has found that 56% of children who tested “not ready” on 3rd grade standardized tests were victims of documented abuse or neglect. This creates a cycle of poverty and abuse that is preventable.
So next time you drive by and see pinwheels spinning, think of the children who do not have the love and care that you give your own. To learn more about Project Pinwheel and how you can get involved, visit their website at http://projectpinwheel.com/.
