UNC Wilmington students raise awareness about child abuse

April is Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month. Thursday at UNC Wilmington, a child welfare class came together to raise awareness about child abuse.

Students took the day to illustrate how many children in North Carolina are in fact mistreated, and what people can do to help.

Every year in our state, there are nearly 100,000 cases of child abuse. Eighty percent of those cases are children under the age of 1.

To make the reality sink in, the class hung 34 baby blankets from a clothes wire. They also accepted donations to make hygiene kits for local social service agencies.

So what can we do? Welfare class president Dave Miller says we can prevent it from happening in the first place.

“Its your duty as a citizen if you see anything suspicious to you, any type of abuse or neglect, by law you have to report it. If not, you could be held accountable for not reporting it,” Miller says.

Miller said the fundraiser was receiving positive feedback, and students were interested in helping the cause.

The organization will be accepting donations through the end of the month. If you want to help, send money to the Student Welfare Collaboration at 601 South College Road, Wilmington NC 28483.