GSB’s Pinwheel Competition Raises Awareness and Money to Combat Child Abuse
by Madelyn McConnell
March 27, 2019
Sometimes, life isn’t so grand for the smallest among us. Child abuse is a national crisis that must be tackled on a community level. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service, National Child Abuse Prevention Month recognizes the importance of families and communities working together to prevent child abuse and neglect.
For the month of April, Grand Savings Bank’s goal is to impact our communities as we raise awareness about child abuse. During the month, all GSB locations will be selling pinwheels for $1 each and competing with other branches to see who can raise the most money to help Children’s Advocacy Centers right here in our communities. Our Jay location has won our annual Pinwheel Sale the last two years, but 2018 has seen the GSB family of banks grow, and the competition is expected to be fiercer than ever.
While we at GSB have fun raising awareness and funding, child abuse is anything but a trivial matter. Each year, nearly 700,000 children are abused in the United States. In Arkansas, 13.8 children per every 1,000 is abused, and in Oklahoma, the rate is 14.9 children per 1,000. The statistics are staggering, but really, even one child is one too many.
One way to support our community is by volunteering, working with, and giving to children’s advocacy centers. These community-based, child-friendly, centers provide multidisciplinary services for children affected by sexual abuse or severe physical abuse that range from providing investigators to law enforcement to medical and mental healthcare.
All proceeds from our Pinwheel Sale will go to benefit these local centers.
- DCCSAN (Delaware County)
- Ottawa County Children’s Safety Center
- Children’s Advocacy Center (Benton County)
- Children’s Safety Center (Washington County)
- Hamilton House, Fort Smith
So, please help us help our community! Pick up a pinwheel for $1 at any Grand Savings Bank location throughout the month of April to raise awareness and help prevent child abuse.
For more information about Child Abuse and Child Abuse Prevention Month, check out these resources.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
The Children’s Bureau, An Office of the Administration for Children & Families
