Children dance to music at the Child Abuse Awareness and Military Child Appreciation Carnival aboard the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif., April 12, 2018. The event was held to provide available resources to community members and hold a small fair for children. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Preston L. Morris)

Photo by Lance Cpl. Preston Morris

7th Marines hosts resource fair for child abuse awareness

12 Apr 2018 | Lance Cpl. Preston Morris Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms

Twentynine Palms -- 7th Marine Regiment hosted the Child Abuse Awareness and Military Child Appreciation Carnival aboard the Combat Center on April 12, 2018. The event was held to provide resources for members of the community and provide fun for children of the parents attending the event.

“The primary goal is to make sure all children’s programs are available to families while simultaneously ensuring the children are having fun at the carnival,” said Brenda Bridges, embedded behavioral health prevention specialist, 7th Marine Regiment. “We’re here to provide for the members of the community and ensure success for all families and service members aboard the Combat Center.”

During the event, there were 50 programs with booths set up at the fair and approximately 150 families attended. There was a bounce house, popcorn, cotton candy, and carnival games for the children and a special guest appearance was made by the superhero Batman to teach the kids about kindness.

“We’re all really happy about how well the event turned out,” said Lt. Cmdr. Greg Uvila, regimental chaplain, 7th Marines. “Our special guest Batman had a great message for the kids to be kind to each other and to spread kindness where they go. Furthermore the teamwork between the Marine volunteers at the event and everyone else really made the event come together.”