LIMA — When Shawnee High School head football coach Frank Crea was asked if his players could help set up for a pinwheel display that represents the families helped by Allen County Children Services in 2016 the answer was easy.
“I said yes. I think it’s important that my football team gives back to the community. We ask a lot of our community to support us so anytime we get a chance to give a little back to our community in Lima, we sure like the opportunity to do so,” Crea said.
About 30 players and six coaches were setting boards the pinwheels will be placed in on the lawn of Lima Memorial Health System near the emergency room. On Monday, a ceremony will be held and about 75 people will participate in placing 841 pinwheels, one for each family helped by Children Services, said Donna Dickman, the director for the Partnership for Violence Free Families.
“This is probably the biggest piece, getting all the boards laid and the displays ready to go,” Dickman said.
Shawnee Senior football player Jacob Chontos said he was happy to help out.
“Whatever we can do to help out. It’s great to help out and give back to the community,” Chontos said.
Chontos also understands there are children who are less fortunate than he and the other players on the team.
“We want to give them someone to look up to and help out as much as we can,” Chontos said.
Dickman said the location in front of the hospital along Bellefontaine Avenue was chosen on purpose so the display will be seen by a lot of people passing by.
“The sunlight catches the pinwheels and it catches your eye,” Dickman said. “This is a reminder that we are the adults and we need to report if we see child abuse or neglect.”
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