If everyone understood the importance of preventing child abuse and neglect our world would be a better place. 

As part of the effort to raise awareness, the Fairfax County Department of Family Services is organizing volunteers to plant pinwheel gardens around our community at libraries, community centers, local businesses, houses of worship, and schools in recognition of April as Child Abuse Prevention Month.

Why pinwheels? They're the national symbol of a safe and happy childhood.

Since 2008, pinwheel gardens have been a fun and impactful way for anyone to help bring awareness to community efforts to end child abuse and neglect through providing support to families in crisis. 

Are you interested in putting on your proverbial gardening gloves and helping us “plant” pinwheels? To “grow” a garden you just need a space for approximately 25 pinwheels (which can be homemade or purchased online) and a sign promoting Pinwheels for Prevention. Check out our Pinwheel Challenge for instructions for making your own pinwheels.

We’re hoping for a huge crop of pinwheel gardens this April to show the children in our community that we all care about this important cause, and we would love to have your support.  

Together we’ll spread the message far and wide and make a difference one child at a time!

Fairfax County’s Child Abuse Prevention efforts seek to Build Stronger Families that can provide safe and healthy childhoods and lead to creating a strong, thriving community. The Department of Family Services’ Volunteer & Partner Services (VPS) Program engages volunteers and builds partnerships to support families with children who are at risk of abuse, neglect or placed in foster care or with relatives. 

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This article posting is part of The Volunteer Post Newsletter for current and potential volunteers, sponsors and donors interested in supporting children and families in crisis. Learn more about Fairfax County Department of Family Services' Volunteer & Partner Services Program (VPS).

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