Free Rides on Ohio Wears Blue Day to Bring Awareness to Child Abuse

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. The second Wednesday of April is designated as ‘Ohio Wears Blue Day” to raise awareness of this heartbreaking issue. On April 10, 2024, Ohioans are encouraged to wear blue to work, to school, out in the community to draw attention to the need for the prevention of child abuseand neglect. Blue pinwheels will be planted around our communities by ‘Pinwheel Partners’ as a symbol of child abuse prevention and awareness.

“We love to see all the blue pinwheels and yard signs around the county during the month of April. The pinwheels are an eye-catching visual reminder of a very serious issue, and
that is the purpose of Child Abuse Prevention Month – to increase everyone’s awareness of the issue. I am very grateful for all our many Pinwheel Partners throughout the county,
including Greene CATS and Family & Youth Initiatives,” said Monica Schiffler, Public Relations Specialist for Greene County Children Services.

Fellow Pinwheel Partners, Family & Youth Initiatives (FYI) and Greene CATS have coordinated together to bring awareness of Ohio Wears Blue Day on public transportation.
Passengers on board Greene CATS will ride for free and will be given information about all the services FYI offers, as well as child abuse prevention tips.

Executive Director Nikki Stefanow expressed that "FYI's mission is to empower families and provide hope. We know that families and children are suffering every day from trauma
caused by generational cycles of poverty and abuse. Our hope is to rescue and protect those families and children to prevent future trauma by redirecting their paths through
education, training, and support in our multiple programs. That's why we chose to make Ohio Wears Blue day our day to sponsor free rides. It ties in perfectly with our mission. We
have many clients who rely on Greene CATS services regularly. We want people to know we are here for them and will help support them. I would love to see multiple agencies
begin sponsoring free ride days to help those who are struggling to get to the services they need because of a lack of transportation. It would be a great collaboration."

“Greene CATS appreciates FYI sponsoring this free ride day for our riders who currently have no other sponsoring agency to pay for their rides, most of whom are on limited or
fixed incomes and have been feeling the pinch of increased costs for food and other basic necessities. Greene CATS is also glad to join with FYI to shed light on the negative impacts
of child abuse on children and families and ways to prevent it,” stated Ken Collier, Executive Director of Greene CATS Public Transit.

Greene CATS provides safe, reliable, and accessible transportation. Scheduled Rides require advance reservation so plan your trip now by calling the Scheduling Office at (937)
708-8322 before April 5 th to make your trip request. For Flex Route schedules and maps, visit the Greene CATS website at www.greenecountyohio.gov/GreeneCATS. For more
information on FYI’s various programs, visit their website at www.fyiohio.org or call (937) 845-0403.