COMMUNITY
Athens County Children Services fills its lawn with pinwheels during Child Abuse Awareness Month, with the help of volunteers
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BY PARKER JENDRYSIK PHOTOS BY PEARL SPURLOCK DESIGN BY MATTHIAS AGGANIS
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backdrop | Spring 2025
very April, Athens County Children Services (ACCS) dots their lawn with colorful, handpainted pinwheels. The vivid display on East State Street symbolizes a larger cause. Each pinwheel that is planted represents a case of child abuse that Athens County has had over the past year. Pinwheels became the national symbol for child abuse in 2008. Every April, ACCS recognizes Child Abuse Prevention Month with the month-long pinwheel campaign – bringing awareness to the mission of ACCS and spreading awareness on child abuse and neglect to community members and students. The display is made possible by Ohio University students, volunteers and the staff of ACCS. The pinwheels created for ACCS often catch the wind, symbolizing the hope that all children in Athens County will have a bright future. With the pinwheels, ACCS hopes to spark conversations about abuse prevention as well as engage with local schools, businesses and organizations to encourage people to take action. The pinwheels also serve as an opportunity for the public to learn more about child abuse prevention and the services available through ACCS, which provides a range of programs and resources designed to help families and protect children. According to the Ohio Department of Youth and Children Services, the rate of reported child abuse and neglect cases per 1,000 children in Hocking, Meigs, Ross and Vinton counties is significantly higher than both the state and regional average. Matthew Starkey, the public information officer and events coordinator for ACCS, grew up in Athens and is an OU alum. He is dedicated to making the most out of Child Abuse Prevention Month in a variety of ways. Starkey says he has many fond memories associated with ACCS and jumped at the opportunity to help others. A large part of that support is spreading awareness. Starkey and ACCS want to make the unfortunate commonality of child abuse known.