Wear a purple ribbon to raise awareness

Ken Johnston

October is Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Month (CANPM) and across the district residents are being asked to wear a purple ribbon to raise awareness about the subject.
Town councils in Rainy River, Emo, Fort Frances and Atikokan have all proclaimed October CANPM. At the same time the manager of community services for Family and Children’s Services, (FACS) Betty-Anne MacKintosh, presented each Mayor with a giant purple ribbon to kick the campaign off.
“Purple is the Promise to Protect kids,” said MacKintosh. The campaign is not a fundraiser, but an awareness drive. Last year FACS ordered 500 ribbons for the district. It was so successful that this year they ordered 5,000 and are asking the public to pick one up at various locations. In Rainy River they are available at the town hall, clinic, hospital and the toy library.
Last year FACS in the Rainy River District admitted 60 children to care as a result of neglect and abuse. Abuse occurs in many different ways. Physical, sexual and emotional abuses are the most common or the children are simply neglected. “People have a responsibility to report it,” said MacKintosh who urges people who see abuse or neglect to do so by calling her office at 274-7787.
The ribbon campaign runs until October 31st.