During the month of April, colorful pinwheels decorate downtown Gloucester. These blue and silver pinwheels have a very important meaning though. Pinwheels are the national symbol for child abuse awareness and to recognize how many children are victims to abuse every year. 

Pinwheels for Prevention is a nationwide campaign that is meant to raise awareness for child abuse prevention efforts. With its childlike essence, it serves as a reminder of the childhoods our children deserve. 

Regarding pinwheel gardens for child abuse prevention month, Kelli Diaz, the Recruitment and Development Director with CASA of Central Virginia, told WSET on April 14, 2022, “It’s really hard to think about children being abused or neglected, but it happens and it happens right here every day. You know, in the state of Virginia, every 81 minutes, a child is abused or neglected. So, that’s a big statistic and so we need to bring awareness to that, to how different people can help, what you can do to be able to prevent child abuse,”.