The Brunswick Junior Woman’s Club is hosting its 7th Annual Pedalin’ Poker Ride on Saturday, April 23, and this year it benefits a new cause: Safe Harbor. It’s a perfect time to spread the message since April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. Safe Harbor’s mission is to create a warm and nurturing atmosphere for children who need shelter and a safe place. Founded 25 years ago by Susan and Bob Hamer as an emergency shelter that housed six boys and six girls, Safe Harbor has expanded and now carries out that mission through six programs that reach just over 550 children in our community.
Safe Harbor Children’s Center, known as “the shelter,” provides short and long term care for eight boys and twelve girls up to age 17 who have been removed from dangerous situations. Safe Place is an outreach program designed to serve youth in the early states of a crisis by maintaining Safe Place sites offering access to Safe Harbor. Workshops and presentations by Safe Harbor in area schools provide children with materials and information about Safe Place services. The Street Beat program is a street outreach program in which caring staff work to build trusting relationships with teens living on the streets, provide nutrition and hygiene kits, sexual exploitation literature, and provide support for youth who want to come off the streets. The Safe Harbor Children’s Advocacy Center and Connie Smith Rape Crisis serves and provides rehabilitative care to more than 200 child victims of sexual and/or severe physical abuse throughout the Brunswick Judicial Circuit each year. Safe Harbor is also a collaborative partner of Darkness to Light Stewards of Children’s child sexual abuse community awareness program, with two trained facilitators on staff. Safe Harbor Family Preservation is a program to which families are referred from the Department of Family and Children Services to help them alleviate crisis and maintain the safety of children in their own homes, by providing counseling, parent support and education, transportation, and childcare. Over the past three years, this program has seen a 75% success rate of children remaining in the home.
Children in our community and throughout Georgia are abused and neglected every day. The six programs offered by Safe Harbor each contribute an important component of providing for the safety and wellbeing of children in order to achieve the vision of all children living in a safe place. Blue pinwheels representing the need for awareness, education, and, most of all, prevention of child abuse will be placed around the Golden Isles during the month of April in honor of Child Abuse Prevention Month. Put one on your bike and come out to join the Pedalin’ Poker Ride to show your support.
The Pedalin’ Poker Ride is a family friendly event with snacks and drinks for the adults along the way. Riders will go “kickstands up” at 11:30 a.m. from Monkeywrench Bicycles on St. Simons Island. From there, it’s a leisurely ride to Mullet Bay, Beachcomber BBQ, and Locos Grill & Pub randomly drawing cards to end up with a full poker hand. Riders will finish and cards will be turned in at Gnat's Landing where there will be live music, raffles, appetizers, and Texas Hold ‘Em rules will dictate the two grand prize winners: best and worst hands.
Part of the mission of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs, of which the Brunswick Junior Woman’s Club is a member, is to promote healthy activities and a scenic bicycle ride with family and friends is a great way to do that! The ride has been popular in past years and more than 100 participants are expected for this fun island outing. Early Bird Registration is available through eventbrite.com or visit brunswickjwc.com to download entry forms and mail. Price is $20 or $30 if you’d like a “Tap Card” included to receive restaurant donated tap beer at each stop. Registration includes a goody bag and T-shirt. All early registrants will be entered in a drawing to win a Jekyll Island Treasure glass ball. If you’re not ready to commit, no worries! You can sign up at the event on April 23 starting at 10:30 a.m. Watch the Brunswick Junior Woman’s Club Facebook page for up-to-the-minute updates about locations and prize teasers!
The blue pinwheel has become a symbol of child abuse prevention. It began as a grassroots campaign in Georgia, Florida, and Ohio as "Pinwheels for Prevention" and has since become a national symbol for child abuse and neglect prevention. The pinwheel reminds us that all children deserve the chance for healthy, happy, and full lives.
