April is Child Abuse Awareness Month

There are two foundations trying to spread the word and make some changes with Child Abuse:  McMahon/Ryan Child Advocacy Site and Baby James Foundation. First I’ll tell you about the Sweet Dreams Fund Campaign.

The McMahon/Ryan Child Advocacy Site will provide children who are victims of physical and sexual abuse with a one-stop care location. Currently, as it is in most cities, when a child falls victim to abuse, they are ferried from building to building, address to address, to visit with an array of professionals. From authorities to child protection advocates to medical examiners to counselors, the experience must be traumatic, exhausting, and frightening.

Through the McMahon/Ryan Child Advocacy Site, each of these critical services will be provided under one roof. Prompt, efficient, and loving care is what these children need, and this is what they’ll receive, without having to shuffle from car to car, location to location.

My blogging friend Greg over at Telling Dad is currently hosting the $1.11 Campaign to raise funds so that children arriving at the center will receive a teddy bear to hug and a coloring book and box of crayons to help take their minds to a better place. The goal is to ease some of the angst, stress, and indelible fear they’ll have when they walk through the doors.

Greg’s goal is to reach $1200. At the time I’m writing this, he’s closing in on 999 donations. Let’s help him reach that $1200! Please donate by visiting Greg’s page.

The other foundation is The Baby James Foundation which I posted about here.  Last Saturday we attended the rally for the foundation. They had many speakers, which you can watch in the video below. They let balloons and sky lanterns go, which many Chicago residents claimed to be UFOs. Renee Hutchinson of the Baby James Foundation is trying to get a law passed called the Baby James Law. You can sign the petition here.

I made over 200 cake pops and had a table for kids to decorate cookies.

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