Lindsey VanBlaricom firmly believes that God wastes nothing so she looked for a way to find some good in a tragedy.
The tragic death of six-year-old Isaiah Torres here in Bella Vista affected her, and she wanted to find a way to give him a voice, a chance to be a hero rather than just a tragic victim.
Isaiah Torres died on March 30, the apparent victim of abuse. Both his parents, Mauricio and Cathy Torres, were arrested and charged with murder, rape and battery.
With the child's suffering "on her heart," VanBlaricom turned to Facebook.
She created an event page called "A Voice of Isaiah Torres," and began to plan.
While she wants to get the message out, she doesn't want the memorial to be morbid or frightening.
"For the hearts of those who personally knew him, and for parents that don't want to give details to children, we are asking that no pictures of him are put in place. No RIP signs. This will be a 'happy scene'," she posted on Facebook.
She thought about gathering balloons or stuffed animals, but then she remembered the pinwheels placed by the Children's Advocacy Center in front of the Bella Vista Police Department for the month of April. Those pinwheels, 376 of them, represent confirmed cases of child abuse in Benton County in 2014. It seemed appropriate to place pinwheels for Isaiah, she explained.
Her employer, the Marketplace Grill in Springdale, helped her fund a banner to go with the pinwheels and then the banner company, Arkansas Sign and Banner in Bentonville, offered a second banner for free. They wanted to help, too, she said.
She knew the memorial should be in a high-traffic area, but she wasn't sure where, so she contacted the administrator of the "Living in Bella Vista" Facebook page who suggested to talk with POA board member John Nuttall. The POA property along US-71, across from Riordan Road, seemed like a logical spot, so with Nuttall's help, VanBlaricom contacted the Mayor, city planning and the Bella Vista Police Department. They were all happy to help, she said.
By the time Isaiah's parents are arraigned on May 4, pinwheels will be in place between the highway and the golf course. She doesn't know how many, but she's already collected 13 dozen and many people on the Facebook page have promised more.
They can be placed anytime during the day of May 3, she said. The Bella Vista Police Department may have officers on hand to help people cross the busy highway to place their pinwheels, she said.
Isaiah's "voice" will be heard by everyone traveling US-71 and that will give parents the chance to talk to their children about abuse. Children, she said, need to be aware so they can help themselves and maybe each other.
VanBlaricom once considered a career in child welfare, but even though she's always been drawn to helping children, she knew it would be too depressing to work in the field full time. So she went into restaurant management and had children of her own. She has been "mom" to a 16-year-old step-daughter who recently dealt with the loss of a young half brother.
"We've seen God do amazing things through the loss of Holden," she said.
VanBlaricom also has a six-year-old son.
VanBlaricom is proud that her children can see her make a difference.
"My kids are seeing that little me -- a nobody -- can speak out," she said, and her form of speaking out is giving a voice to an abused child, who can no longer speak for himself.
VanBlaricom can be contacted through the Facebook page by searching "A Voice of Isaiah Torres."
General News on 04/29/2015