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Women’s league plants pinwheels for prevention
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .Members of the Austintown Junior Women's League recently planted a "pinwheel garden" near the entrance of Austintown Township Park. The garden is part of "Pinwheels for Prevention," an awareness campaign for child abuse awareness month. The AJWL members are, from left, president Teresa Lyden, Tiffany Lyden, and Becky DeFrank.
By SARAH FOOR
A colorful new addition can be found at Austintown Township Park this April.
Near the sign at the entrance of the park, blue and silver pinwheels are spinning in the wind, thanks to the efforts of the Austintown Junior Women’s League.
The General Federation of Women’s Clubs, of which AJWL is a member, spread awareness during the month of April, or Child Abuse Prevention Month, with the “Pinwheels for Prevention” program. The campaign focuses on prioritizing healthy child development and eradicating child abuse and neglect.
“In April, we plant pinwheels because the toys are a wonderful symbol of the beauty of childhood. The federation began this program less than five years ago and it has already spread across 40 states. We think it is important to bring attention to this issue in Austintown,” said Teresa Lyden, president of the AJWL.
The group bought a collection of the pinwheels and all the money from their purchase will benefit the Ohio Children’s Trust Fund.
Lyden hopes the awareness program will inspire others.
“We hope to see other businesses and individuals in Austintown get involved by planting their own pinwheel gardens. If the awareness campaign inspires one person to report child abuse or neglect, we’ve made a difference in the life of a child,” she added.
The Austintown Junior Women’s League would like to see any pinwheel gardens that have popped up in Austintown. Any photos can be sent to the AJWL at P.O. Box 4882, Austintown or emailed to tllmt@yahoo.com.