COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – For the third straight year, the Coldwater Early Bird Exchange Club Healing Hill of Hope will honor Branch County children who have been abused or neglected.
The flag placement ceremony will take place Thursday morning at 11:00 a.m. The flags will then fly throughout the month of July.
Patsy Karbon, who is the Early Bird Exchange chairperson for the local Healing Hill organizing committee, says each flag represents a reported case of child abuse.
Kim Hemker from the Branch County Coalition and Domestic Violence says the Healing Field is designed to create awareness.
In 2017 there were 250 substantiated cases of child abuse in Branch County, one of the highest per capita number of cases for Michigan counties. 105 children moved from their homes into a foster care situation with 75 of those kids removed permanently.
This event along with a 5K run on the Fourth of July will support local child abuse programs.
For those planning to attend Thursday’s ceremony, organizers will have a shuttle service running from Michigan Works to the Naomi Davis Shelter House.
