THUNDER BAY – More than one-thousand school children in Thunder Bay are stepping up in support of Child Abuse Prevention Month at the check-outs of two local grocery stores. The Grocery Bag Project was announced today at Crestview Public Elementary School, as students from grades three to eight presented hundreds of coloured shopping bags to Dilico Anishinabek Family Care representatives.
Over the last month, local students decorated 1250 paper grocery bags with messages and images about child abuse prevention. Quality Market has stepped up by committing to distribute the decorated bags for the final days of October at both of their store locations.
Dilico Anishinabek Manager of Protection to Services, Marinna Del Ben says; “We are very grateful to have so many students participating in this year’s grocery bag project. It really helps us get a very important message about child abuse prevention home with shoppers, and at the same time teaches children how to recognize trusted adults they can turn to for help”.
October is Child Abuse Prevention Month across the province of Ontario. For October 2010, Dilico Anishinabek Family Care, in partnership with The Children’s Aid Society of the District of Thunder Bay, launched an awareness campaign called StepUP. The Grocery Bag Project is one way that local children and grocery stores have come together as part of the StepUP campaign to remind the general public that we are all responsible for the safety, health and happiness of children in our community.
Throughout the month of October, eleven schools in the city of Thunder Bay participated in the Grocery Bag project. They include:
-C.D. Howe Public School – Holy Family – St. Margaret
-Kingsway Public School -Gorham and Ware Community School – St. Martin
-Crestview Public School -Nor’Wester View Public School – St. Bernard -Five Mile Public School – Ogden Community Public School
Crestview Public school had the highest number of students participating in the Grocery Bag Project, and even held their own special contests to increase student involvement.
Shoppers are encouraged to visit both Quality Market Store locations participating to collect a one-of-a-kind grocery bag and to demonstrate their willingness to step up for local children.
For more information about child abuse prevention and how to get help visit: