CULLMAN, Ala. – At noon this Thursday, April 11, United Way agency Cullman Caring for Kids (CCK) will hold its annual prayer walk to promote awareness and prevention of child abuse in Cullman County. Walkers will meet on the front steps of the Cullman County Courthouse, then proceed from there to the top of Cullman Savings Bank’s parking deck, where participants will release balloons to honor the memory of the 25 Alabama children who died in 2018 as a result of abuse.
CCK Executive Director Javon Daniel told The Tribune, “This event has pretty much been an annual event now for quite a few years. We want to get the message out to as many people as we can about this plight of child abuse. People don’t want to talk about child abuse. Hunger is one thing, but child abuse is just something no one wants to talk about.
“We want to make sure that people understand that they need to be aware of what it is, what the signs are, and what they can do to actually help stop child abuse.”
Daniel said 974 cases of child abuse/neglect were reported in Cullman County alone last year. He also noted that, on average, as few as only 10 percent of abuse cases are ever reported; meaning that the actual number of cases could be up to 10 times higher.
Said Daniel, “This is something that’s happening now, and we need to make sure that the public, everybody, not just the people that are already aware, but everybody, knows that it’s not your responsibility, it’s not my responsibility. It’s our responsibility- all of us- to stop child abuse. And the only way we can do that is to participate, get involved and stay involved.”
CCK encourages participants: “Demonstrate your talent and spirit to protect children by carrying and displaying your own personal STOP CHILD ABUSE poster. Don’t just talk about it…do something!”
The Cullman Tribune is proud to be an official partner with Cullman Caring for Kids in supporting the wellbeing of Cullman County’s children and their families.
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