ALLENDALE, MI (WHTC) – The blue pinwheels you’re seeing in Holland throughout West Michigan are in honor of Child Abuse Prevention Month.
A garden planting took place at Love INC of Allendale Tuesday. Pathways, a program of Arbor Circle of Ottawa County was on hand as well as several organizations were on hand including Positive Options of Allendale and Love Inc.
Former State Rep. Amanda Price was there to represent Senator Arlan Meekoff and planted a pinwheel. Price spoke about human trafficking and that it is a problem in Ottawa County. Some recent legislation has been passed.
“Before if a young lady 14 or 13 years of age was arrested in a humand trafficking situation, they were charged with prostitution. That here is a child who whole life has been taken over by someone treating them in an very evil way and now they are being charged with a crime. When I did finish my term of office in December, there was one thing I knew I was going to do. I didn’t know what job I would have, but I knew I was going to ask to be back on the Children’s Advocacy Board. So I have done that.”
Pathways, a program of Arbor Circle participates in the campaign and was formed in 2006 through the merger of Child and Family Services of Western Michigan and Children’s Resource Network, Inc. Together, Pathways, MI represents over 80 years of experience serving communities throughout 10 counties across Western Michigan.
The agencies in Ottawa County such as The Children’s Advocacy Center of Ottawa County and the Center for Women in Transition work together on the campaign.
The following business in Holland are displaying Pinwheel Gardens:
Holland Peanut Store, Cranes in the City, Orange Leaf Yogurt, Peachwave, Hops, Crust 54, Subs N More, Globe, Bores Shoes, Gliks (women), Gliks (men), Home, Chicos, Trends on 8th, Merle Norman, Design Works Interiors, 8th Street Grill, JosABanks, Engeti Salon, Sand Castle,Blue Veranda, Teermans , Fustinis, 8th St. Salon, Seasoned Home, Karla’s Place, Francescas, Readers World, JB & Me, and the Bridge.
There will be large blue bows in Centennial Park in Holland as well as banners located throughout the county.
