Paint the Town Blue with CPC

From blue streaks across newspaper covers to blue handprints on the sidewalk, Sarasota is turning various shades of blue this month.

It’s all in the name of Paint the Town Blue, the annual campaign held by Child Protection Center.

 April is National Child Abuse Prevention month, so to bring awareness to a local level, CPC is asking local businesses and individuals to paint SRQ blue.

“It’s important because we want people to kind of take the blinders off and really realize child abuse is real, and it exists in our backyards, and it’s right here in Sarasota,” said Mya Widmyer, special events associate for CPC.

In the past, businesses have given profits from certain sales back to CPC or painted their windows blue, restaurants have offered drink specials and offices have offered dress down Fridays for employees who bring in $5 to donate to CPC. 

Jill McMullen, co-chairwoman of Paint the Town Blue, hopes the campaign brings awareness to CPC’s services.

“We’re working with the national campaign to bring awareness of abuse prevention,” McMullen said. “So locally, we’re just trying to let people know we’re here.”

Widmyer said CPC focuses on prevention, intervention and treatment. Prevention is perhaps most important because if child abuse is prevented, the other two won’t be needed, Widmyer said.

“It’s hard to believe because we live in paradise … It is happening,” she said.

Those interested in helping paint the town blue or volunteering, including businesses and individuals, should email [email protected]. Follow along on social media with the hashtags #PaintSRQBlue, #GetYourBlueOn and #CPCSRQ.