Woman's Club to raise child abuse awareness

GULF BREEZE — April marks National Child Abuse Awareness Month, and GFWC-Santa Rosa Woman's Club members will hang blue bows, host a series of events and partner with Santa Rosa Kids’ House.

"It's everyone’s responsibility to keep our children safe, and that's what the From Blue to Better campaign does,” Sheree Northrup, SRWC member and the events’ coordinator, said. “It engages all of our community.”

“It’s our second year to partner with Santa Rosa Kids’ House,” Northrup said. “Our members go into the community and place posters and hang blue bows in businesses and in neighborhoods.” 

The club encourages residents and business owners to participate by saying “yes” to displaying the symbols of awareness when a member stops by.

To request a blue bow for your business or neighborhood, call Northrup at 678-381-6085 or email her at ssnorthrup@live.com.

SRWC will host guest speaker, Dr. Karen Barber, Santa Rosa County School district director of Federal Programs, on April 4 during the group’s monthly meeting at Tiger Point Golf Club. The meeting begins at 10:30 a.m.; lunch costs $15. 

Barber, an educator and administrator for 28 years, facilitates the Title 1 program for disadvantaged children and youths.

“This will be a great opportunity to learn about the many impacts of child abuse and homelessness in our community and what we can do to become aware and become an advocate,” Barber said. “Children suffering in our community is a difficult topic, but through talking about it and educating ourselves, we can begin to change it.”

Call Mary Eder, 932-9840, by March 29 to make reservations. The event will also include opportunities to win gift baskets with all proceeds going to the Homeless Education Program for Santa Rosa County Schools.

SRWC will also partner with Newk’s restaurants in Pensacola for two April evening fundraisers for Santa Rosa Kids’ House and Children in Crisis.

Santa Rosa Woman’s Club is part of the Greater Federation of Women’s Clubs. GFWC’s signature program is Domestic Violence and Prevention in October, which also addresses issues of dating abuse and elder abuse. 

This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Woman's Club to raise child abuse awareness