MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII -- Those driving onto Marine Corps Base Hawaii in the morning may have noticed colored pinwheels spinning in the breeze. The blue and silver pinwheels represent National Child Abuse Prevention Month, which falls in April. Each of the rainbow-colored pinwheels represents an alleged case of child abuse on base.
Child abuse is one of several issues to take the spotlight during the month of April. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, an estimate of more than 1,500 children died from abuse or neglect in 2010 in the U.S.
As the month of April progresses, Marine Corps Community Services plans to host various activities and events to emphasize the importance of child abuse prevention.
Marine and Family Programs will be hosting a Pinwheels for Prevention Walk April 12 at 2 p.m., an hour before the Keiki Aloha Expo. All hands aboard Marine Corps Base Hawaii are invited to meet in front of the Fairways Ballroom at the Kaneohe Klipper Golf Course, where the walk will begin. Accompanied with a live performance by the U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific Party Band, participants will walk from the ballroom to Riseley Field, and help tie pinwheels to the fence.
With 40 vendors, the Keiki Aloha Expo is scheduled for April 12 in the Fairways Ballroom at the Kaneohe Klipper Golf Course, from 3 to 6 p.m. Mini workshops include baby sign language, benefits of breastfeeding, challenging behavior strategies and parent-child circle time.
“This is a one-stop shop to find out about civilian and military resources to support expectant families and families with infants and small children,” said Diane Whitcomb, the manager of the New Parent Support Program and coordinator of the Keiki Aloha Expo.
This year, the expo will include four workshops. The baby sign language workshop is being offered again this year. Whitcomb said the expo gives people an opportunity to have face-to-face contact with representatives from various organizations.
Many organizations, including Family Hui and Easter Seals, will be at the expo, as well as on base organizations including MCCS, the Armed Services YMCA, Exceptional Family Member Program and the Children, Youth and Teen Program.
"We want to continue efforts to destigmatize asking for help and communicate the many resources that are available for our Marine families,” said Kalani Mills, manager of the Family Advocacy Program for Marine and Family Services. “It’s not easy being a parent, and for many, (it’s even harder being single parents) while our service members are away. This is an enormous challenge for our young families that have little to no family support to give them a break. Everyone has a limit. We ask our families here on base to support each other and to recognize if someone is hurting or stressing out to offer a helping hand.”
The base is also lending its helping hand to the Teddy Bear Round Up, collecting new or gently used teddy bears and other stuffed animals for children. This year, Prevent Child Abuse Hawaii hopes to achieve the Guinness World Record for Largest Gathering of Plush Toys, with a goal of more than 5,000 stuffed animals.
Through April 23, donors can bring their stuffed animals to the Semper Fit Center, Marine and Family Programs Counseling Services in building 216, at the Youth ActivitIes Center and the base library. On April 27 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., there will also be a stuffed animal collection site at Windward Mall. Prevent Child Abuse Hawaii will then give the toys to the various organizations.
Base residents can find information about Child Abuse Prevention Month at a joint awareness month information table at the base commissary, April 15, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. On April 18 and 19, the information tables will again be available with resources and information at Mokapu Mall, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Representatives will be giving out pinwheels in observance of the month.
On April 9, 16, 23 and 30, the “Art in the Park Series” will be hosting activities in Riseley Field for families. During the month of the April, there will also be resource tables related to Child Abuse Prevention Month, Month of the Military Child and Autism Awareness Month.
Prevent Child Abuse Hawaii is hosting its annual pinwheel planting event at the Hawaii state Capitol Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. The local and military communities are invited to the Hawaii Capitol to help plant pinwheels, which will be on display from April 7 through 14. For more information, contact Prevent Child Abuse Hawaii at 951-0200.
Whether on or off base, prevention and awareness of child abuse and neglect will have a presence, in the form of pinwheels, a cuddly teddy bear, or concerned individuals who are working toward a solution. For more information about MCCS events, visit http://www.mccshawaii.com.