Center for Prevention of Abuse Celebrates Children

WMBD/WYZZ TV - PEORIA -- The Center for Prevention on Abuse is celebrating children in an effort to fight child abuse.

For eleven years the center has honored Child Abuse Prevention Month by celebrating the Children's Garden at the Luthy Botanical Garden. This year's theme is "Planting Seeds of Peace." Fourth graders from Glen Oak Primary School spent the morning planting flowers and learning about the important roles that nurturing and caring play when it comes to making something grow, much like a child's early life.

Patti Morris, with the Center for Prevention of Abuse, says, "What we believe is that as they come here and read our mission statement of the garden about nurturing children, it'll raise awareness of parents of how important that is. Also anyone in the community who wants to bring children here will have a deeper appreciation for what it means to spend quality time with children and help them to grow."

The children planted flowers and stuffed a scarecrow to do their part in adding to this year's garden celebration.