During the months of March and April, children in Pike County will have an opportunity to participate in a program designed to raise awareness about child abuse and give them a way to display their artistic talents and win some really great prizes at the same time.

Mona Watson, director of the Pike Regional Child Advocacy Center in Troy, said the opportunity to participate in the “Joining Hands Against Child Abuse” coin drop and poster contest is open to classes ranging from kindergarten to fifth grade in all schools in the county.

“The purpose of ‘Joining Hands Against Child Abuse’ is to raise awareness among young students about child abuse and to raise money to provide prevention programs in our schools and community,” Watson said. “This program gets students personally involved. They often hear and read about the blue ribbons and child abuse but they don’t know what it’s all about unless they take an active part and ask questions and get the information that they need.”

Each school has a “Joining Hands Against Child Abuse” banner and the students are invited to sign their names and pledge to join hands with their classmates and schoolmates against child abuse.

“The coin drop is a fundraiser for the CAC and also a vote in support of ‘Joining Hands Against Child Abuse,’” Watson said. “Students vote by dropping loose change in the class jar. Each cent is worth one vote. The class with the most votes will be given a pizza party sponsored by the CAC. The class will also have their picture taken and posted in The Messenger.”

The coin drop will end April 30 and there will be a winner in kindergarten through second grade and a winner in third through fifth grades.”

The theme for the poster contest is “Joining Hands Against Child Abuse” and winners will be selected in kindergarten through second grade and third through fifth.

“The posters will be displayed at the individual schools and a panel of judges will determine the winner,” Watson said. “In addition to the winners, there will be first, second, third and fourth runners-up.”

The poster contest winners will receive a basket filled with goodies and also be invited to participate in the Child Abuse Proclamation Day Ceremony on April 1.

Teachers and parents are asked to encourage their students to participate in this worthwhile program.