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Eighth Annual Light the Lake brings awareness to child abuse prevention

Lake Waccamaw, NC – On Tuesday evening, April 12, a group of nearly 40 walkers of all ages took to Flemington Drive for the Eighth Annual Light the Lake for Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness coordinated by Community Based Services at Boys and Girls Homes of North Carolina.

“This is an opportunity to shine a light and raise awareness on an issue that impacts so many children and youth in North Carolina,” said Chief Program Officer Donna Yalch. “Between July 2019 and June of 2020, there were 117,268 reports of child abuse and neglect in North Carolina.”

The annual walk collaborates with Pinwheels for Prevention throughout the month of April, which is also National Child Abuse Prevention Month.

Carrying electric candles, the walkers made their way down Lake Shore Drive before turning onto Cameron Street. A short walk down Church Street brought them back to campus where they enjoyed a time of fellowship and light refreshments.

BGHNC President/CEO Ricky Creech expressed his appreciation to the Community Based Services team for putting together the event and all the work they do to help at-risk children, youth, and families.

“I want to thank them for all the hard work they do,” said Creech. “I have spent almost 40 years working with at-risk families and I get to tell the success stories and the heart wrenching stories. I want to thank all of the CBS team for being on the front-line. You never know all the seeds planted through your hard work, passion, and commitment.”

BGHNC offers adoption, family and therapeutic foster care, Success Coach services to prevent children from coming into foster care and children’s therapy through the Community Based Services programs.

Foster parents are needed to provide a loving, structured environment for children taken into custody by the Department or Social Services due to abuse or neglect. The length of stay in foster care varies from a few days to months to even years.

For more information about foster care and opportunities to become a foster parent, contact Community Based Service at BGHNC at 877-211-5322 or visit the Foster Care page on this website.

About Boys and Girls Homes of North Carolina

Boys and Girls Homes of North Carolina, Inc., has been helping children since 1954. Since then, more than 7,500 children have benefitted from the services of the not-for-profit, 501(c)3 agency. Its mission is to provide a comprehensive array of services for children and youth who have been removed from their homes due to abuse, neglect or other family dysfunction. BGHNC offers adoption, family and therapeutic foster care, Success Coach services to prevent children from coming into foster care, and free children’s therapy, as well as residential care on the campus at Lake Waccamaw. The campus features a SACS-accredited school with a middle and high school curriculum, vocational education, recreation facilities, farm, chapel and cottage life. As many as 320 children are cared for through the residential, community-based services, and school program provided by BGHNC at any given time. BGHNC operates its program, services and activities in compliance with federal nondiscrimination laws. BGHNC is nationally accredited by the Council on Accreditation.

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