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CASA of the Sabine Neches Region holds vigil for victims of child abuse

211 pinwheels sit outside the Orange County Courthouse, symbolizing the number children in Texas who were killed due to abuse and neglect in 2018.

ORANGE, Texas — Dozens of people in Orange County took a stand against child abuse Tuesday evening.

The Court Appointed Special Advocates of the Sabine Neches Region (CASASNR) held a vigil outside the Orange County Courthouse.

Its purpose was to raise awareness for child abuse and neglect, while also remembering the young lives lost over the last year. 

The timing is significant because April is Child Abuse Prevention Month.

Unfortunately, Orange County has become all too familiar with heartbreaking news involving young kids.

"We're barely into the fourth month of the year and have lost two children under three years old already," says executive director for CASA's Sabine Region Codie Vasquez. "The community is still pretty traumatized by that."

Within the last two months, Savi Roque, 2, and 18-month-old Raydyn Jones...were both killed.

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CASASNR hopes to put an end to these horrific crimes.

"Somebody has to do it, somebody has to be there for the kids," says CASASNR advocate Kristie Veillon. "That's really why I joined and got started."

Veillon became an advocate for CASA of the Sabine Neches Region last week.

She tells 12News it was time for her to help make an impact on others. 

"After recovering from Hurricane Harvey, I just wanted to give something back to the community," says Veillon. "It came on my heart again, so I finally got the nerve to print the application out and filled it out, sent it in and just went with it."

Veillon encourages others to step up and help as well.

211 pinwheels sit outside the Orange County Courthouse, symbolizing the number of boys and girls in Texas who were killed due to abuse and neglect in 2018.

Vasquez says "These children should be here to play with those things, instead of us having vigils and memorials to remember them due to senseless acts of abuse and neglect."

CASA of the Sabine Neches Region has five more vigils scheduled throughout Southeast Texas in the counties they serve.

April 3rd at 6pm, Hardin County Annex Building

April 4th at 6pm, Sabine County Courthouse

April 8th at 6pm, Newton County Courthouse

April 11th at 6pm, Jasper County Courthouse

April 17th at 6pm, Woodville City Hall

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