Patsy's House having first Save Jane event Thursday, volunteers welcome to read names

Patsy's House Children's Advocacy Center seeks to raise awareness about child abuse with its first ever Save Jane event Thursday, officials said in a media release. 

Officials from Wichita County and surrounding counties are joining Patsy's House to take a stand against child abuse beginning noon Thursday at the nonprofit organization at 1411 10th St., according to the media release. 

For six hours straight, volunteers will read the names and ages of almost 3,000 children reported abused in Wichita and surrounding counties in 2020. 

“Patsy’s House hopes that through Save Jane, Wichita Falls and our surrounding counties will recognize the absolute magnitude and prevalence of child abuse in our area,” said Denise Roberts, Patsy’s House executive director.

"It is everywhere you look," Roberts said. 

Community leaders have signed up for shifts to read names.

The annual Pinwheels for Patsy's House fundraiser is also taking place in observance of Child Abuse Awareness Month this April. 

Anyone interested in taking a turn reading a selection of names for Save Jane, should call 940-322-8890 or email kgober@patsyshouse.org.

To protect the identities of the minors reported as abused, “Jane Doe” and “John Doe” will be used in place of their names.

“It will take six hours of nonstop reading to name each child who was abused last year. That is simply unacceptable," Roberts said. 

The reading will continue nonstop to represent the nonstop job Patsy's House and its partners have when it comes to battling child abuse.

"We never stop fighting for these kids who have suffered unspeakable abuse," Roberts said. "Our team will continue to do our work, but we need the community’s help.”

The Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center launched the inaugural Save Jane event in 2019 to spread awareness about the magnitude of child abuse and about organizations working in the field.  

Save Jane was planned to be held in Wichita Falls in 2020, but it was canceled because of COVID. 

In addition, pinwheels on the lawn at Patsy's House in April will represent children abused in the eight counties the nonprofit organization serves. 

In 2020, officials investigated almost 2,882 child abuse cases in Wichita County and surrounding counties, according to Patsy's House. 

A donor can help symbolically wipe out child abuse by pulling one pinwheel per $20 donation. 

Funds raised will provide essential services to child abuse victims and their non-offending family members in the Wichita County area. 

Donations can be made during normal business hours at Patsy's House at 1411 10th St., by calling (940) 322-8890 or visiting the nonprofit's website.

Established in 1996, Patsy’s House is one of 71 advocacy centers in Texas offering services to abused children and non-offending family members.

To learn more visit patsyshouse.org.

Trish Choate, enterprise watchdog reporter for the Times Record News, covers education, courts, breaking news, politics and more. Contact Trish with news tips at tchoate@gannett.com. Her Twitter handle is @Trishapedia.