Local & State Headlines

Abuse awareness event planned

Joshua Brown

ALBANY — Open Arms Inc. is holding an 11 a.m. event today to raise awareness about child abuse in Albany and Dougherty County, an organization official said Tuesday.

The event, called the National Day of Hope, is to be held at the Greater Second Mt. Olive Sports Complex at 103 Dewey St. It was begun to educate the public about and involve religious organizations in the fight against child abuse, Open Arms Associate Director Roasalynn Fowler said.

“The main gist of it is you want to get the whole community, you want to get the spiritual voice involved because they’re so huge,” she said. “Not only (do you want) to get them involved, but (you want to) get them to take action in fighting child abuse.”

Fowler said invitations have been sent out to Albany’s churches, though the general public can also come to the free event. She said the program will highlight the need for others to get involved in the fight against child abuse.

Speakers are scheduled from 11 a.m.-noon, including child-abuse survivors and Open Arms officials, and a meal will be served after the event, Fowler said.

The speakers will be available after the program to speak one-on-one, she said, and attendees can find out more about the fight against child abuse.

Fowler said today will be the first National Day of Hope program in Southwest Georgia. Congressional resolutions prompted the event in 2002.

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