If anyone saw the cloud of blue balloons floating away from the Jemison Head Start building Friday, then the Child Abuse Awareness program held there was a success.

About 40 children are enrolled in the Head Start program, and, as part of the event for Child Abuse Awareness Month, they placed blue ribbons on a tree, released blue balloons and planted flowers in front of the building.

“There are so many children that are being abused silently that we don’t know about,” LaGora Lykes with the Head Start program said about why it’s important to raise awareness about child abuse.

The Head Start program is a federally funded effort to prepare children from low-income families for public schools by teaching them social skills.

Tonya Buendtner was responsible for organizing Friday’s event and thanked the following businesses who contributed: Cake Factory in Jemison, Pap’s Pizza, Jemison Grill, South Central Sign, Petals from the Past, A to Z PC Repair, American Stop and Shop, C and C Trophy, Daisy’s Florist and Gift, Garrison and the LeCroy Career/Technical Center.

The center also announced the receipt of two new computers that were donated.