COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Planning is well underway for this summer’s Coldwater Early Bird Exchange Club Healing Hill of Hope. The event at the Naomi Davis Shelter House creates awareness and provides resources for child abuse prevention services in Branch County.
The third annual Healing Hill features 325 American flags along with Child Abuse flags in formation on the hill at the Shelter House in honor of Branch County children who have suffered from abuse or neglect. The flag placement ceremony is set for Thursday June 28, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. The flags will fly for the entire month of July.
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.
Patsy Karbon, Early Bird Exchange chairperson for the local Healing Hill organizing committee, spoke about the event at the March 8 Coldwater Township Sunrise Rotary meeting. According to Karbon, money raised thru the activity includes funding for Darkness to Light, a club sponsored sexual abuse prevention and education program.
All of the teachers and staff of Coldwater and Quincy have been trained in the program this year.
