Only one lane remains open with 23 teams bowling in the first Bowl-a-Thon fund-raiser for the Amador Child Abuse Prevention Council.

The event is set for Saturday, March 28 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Gold Country Lanes bowling alley on Ridge Road in Sutter Creek.

"The support from the community has been incredible," said to Robin Valencia, program coordinator for the council. "We have teams with members from the board of supervisors, businesses, students, county agencies, community organizations, motorcycle clubs from as far away as Woodland, and youth from the Pine Grove Camp who are donating their own money. This is going to be a fantastic kick-off to April's Child Abuse Prevention Month."

The council will also be collecting non-perishable food items for the Interfaith Food Bank at the Bowl-a-Thon. (Protein items are preferred and, please, no glass containers.) Each bowler who brings an item to donate will receive an additional raffle ticket.

The council is still accepting lane sponsors to defray costs for the event. Lane sponsorships are available starting at $50. All sponsors will be recognized at Gold Country Lanes on the day of the event and sponsors over the $100 level also receive a framed certificate to display showing they are a 2009 supporting member of the child abuse prevention council.

The council is also kicking off a new public awareness campaign for National Child Abuse Prevention Month in April consisting of posters and brochures asking parents to be sure that anyone they are asking to watch their children is "up to the task" and, that they have the information they need to safely care for a child.

Other April events include the 11th Annual Celebrate Our Children event on April 18 at Argonaut High School. This is free to children and their families and includes music, food, crafts, games, demonstrations and safety information.

More than 1,000 community members attended free workshops and presentations from the child abuse prevention council in 2008. Programs focus on keeping children safer online, preventing injuries caused by shaking a baby or young child, and how to recognize and report child suspected abuse and neglect, as well as awareness of how the little things we do can make a difference in a child's life.