April is National Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month and Maud residents are gearing up to get the word out.
At 2 p.m. Saturday, volunteers will meet in downtown Maud to create a Blue Ribbon Campaign to bring attention to this devastating problem that affects children throughout Northeast Texas and the nation.
"Our Heart 4 Kids program is a community-wide campaign to spread awareness to help prevent child abuse," Gaye Beard, foster home developer for A World for Children, said.
Beard, who is spearheading the campaign from her office in Maud, oversees training, offers support and implements techniques that help foster families raise stable, happy and healthy childrenemotionally, mentally and physically.
She also teaches foster parents how to care for their children's needs, whether those needs are physical, emotional or medical.
Beard has found much support for the Blue Ribbon Campaign from area businesses and hopes to incorporate Maud's citizens' concerns to gain even more support.
"We're starting this campaign by recognizing April as Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness month," she said. "We are painting this town blue."
Citizens from several local organizations and interested individuals plan to spend the afternoon creating the blue ribbons made of plywood and paint. The 4-foot-by-30-inch ribbons can be placed in front of supporters' homes or businesses. Several businesses in Maud have already ordered theirs and are hoping others will follow suit.
Among the many volunteers committed to help build these signs are the Maud Beautification Committee, Scout Troop 40, Alamo Supply (who is donating supplies for the project), United Methodist Women, Maud High School National Honor Society and the Methodist Youth Fellowship.
Blue ribbon pins will be made by the United Methodist Women and the Methodist Youth Fellowship. Blue ribbons will also be provided by the Bowie County Child Welfare Board.
The Welfare Board also offers blue T-shirts that can be purchased to support the cause. If not enough shirts are available Saturday, orders will be taken for a later delivery.
Mayor Pro-Tem Jimmy Clary has even signed a proclamation designating the month of April as Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month for the City of Maud.
As hard as it is to talk about, child abuse "is happening. It's happening right here," Beard said.
"We need to find ways to help our kids so they can become successful adults," she said.
"It's one small effort on one single day for one little month when we're saying we care about the people in our community and we want to find ways to help one another.
"If that means helping a family by providing them with a mentor, or offering babysitting service, or doing their laundry, or paying their utility bill, let's figure out what it is they need and make it happen."
A few ideas that could greatly affect the lives of Maud's neighbors include providing rolls of quarters for laundry day, donating to the First Baptist Church Benevolent Fund, Maud United Fund, Church of Christ Christmas Basket Fund, United Methodist Church Toys for Tots, Friendship House, Maud Cares to Share Food Pantry or sign up to mentor a child or babysit for struggling parents.
Beard is also asking advocates and sponsors to show their support by dressing themselves and their children in blue T-shirts every Friday in April.
For more information on ordering the large plywood blue ribbons, T-shirts or donating, call Gaye Beard at 469-865-4764.
Any and all volunteers are welcome to join the groups on Saturday.