Blue ribbons to fight child abuse

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. Blue Ribbons and blue pinwheels stand as symbols of a stand to end child abuse. On April 25, The Nurturing Center will hold its annual human blue ribbon on the hillside in Lawrence Park in Kalispell.

The Nurturing Center invites everyone to participate on Tuesday, April 25, from 4-6 p.m. at Lawrence Park. The activities at the park will include forming a super-sized human blue ribbon. The center asks participants to wear blue to the celebration in order to create their biggest blue ribbon yet to stand against child abuse. There will also be music, food, and activities.

“April has been a busy month at The Nurturing Center as we have worked to shine a light on the importance of ending child abuse, said Cathy Brenneman, executive director at the Nurturing Center.

“All of our programs are about building stronger families and safer children. We love hosting this event as it lets us celebrate what we hope for our future — communities full of safe, happy, and healthy children and strong, nurturing families! This event brings us all together as a community to stand up for our kids.”

The Blue Ribbon Campaign to Prevent Child Abuse began in 1989 as a grandmother’s efforts to acknowledge her grandson who died as a result of abuse. She tied a blue ribbon to the antenna of her car as a way to remember him and to alert her community to the tragedy of child abuse. Today there are blue ribbons all across the country.