COUNTY — Sadly, Pickens County ranks third among South Carolina counties for having the greatest numbers when it comes to child abuse and neglect.
The Parenting Place, home of Prevent Child Abuse Pickens County, is revving up its engines for the 16th annual Ride for the Child fundraiser scheduled for Saturday, April 21.
Gloria Morris, Director of The Parenting Place, says that money raised through Ride for the Child will go a long way toward prevention programs designed to eliminate cases of child abuse and neglect before they ever happen.
Morris is passionate about the programs and services her agency offers, but like many other state and federally funded agencies, The Parenting Place faces financial challenges. The Ride for the Child is important because that money can be used to help serve more families in Pickens County.
“About 73.8 percent of our numbers are the result of child neglect due to poverty, a lack of education, transportation and poor living conditions,” said Morris. “We performed more than 190 home visits in the last two months. Prevention is the key.”
The Ride for the Child is an approximately 100-mile ride that begins at The Parenting Place, located in the Dalton Flats shopping center on Highway 8 between Easley and Pickens. Route 11 will take riders on a scenic adventure through the foothills, parts of Clemson and Anderson, and ending at Michael’s Pizzeria in Easley.
Riders can register online at www.theparentingplacepca.org or at The Parenting Place, from 9-11 a.m. the morning of the ride. Registration fees are $25 per rider, however, riders are encouraged to pick up sponsorship forms because every rider able to earn $100 worth of sponsorship will ride free.
The top three participants to raise the most sponsorship funds will win a prize package.
When the ride ends at Michael’s Pizzeria, there will be more fun in store with a live band, delicious food, gifts, prizes and a 50/50 drawing.
“The Parenting Place is about helping families move from a state of dependence on the system to successful independence,” said Morris. “We offer comprehensive services for families to prevent child abuse and save the lives of children in Pickens County.”
For more information or to join The Ride for the Child, send an email to rideforthechild@theparentingplacepca.org or call The Parenting Place at (864) 898-5583.
“Pickens County doesn’t want to be known as the worst county for child abuse,” said Morris. “We can prevent child abuse with help from the community.”