Every month, our We Care community outreach program focuses on an individual nonprofit organization in our local area to give back and help as much as we can as a team. For the month of February, our team continued our relationship with the Children’s Advocacy Center of Northeastern Pennsylvania in downtown Scranton.
For 22 years, the Children’s Advocacy Center of Northeastern Pennsylvania has helped more than 17,000 children and adolescents in effectively assessing and treating child abuse and neglect. The CAC is a private, non-profit organization whose mission is to ensure all visitors receive the time, love and special treatment they need to continue their lives without the weight of their past.
This month we collected over $970 to spend which contributed to a total of 111 items! These items included socks, underwear, pajamas, personal hygiene products (deodorant, shampoo/conditioner, toothbrushes, toothpaste, combs/brushes, hair ties…), coloring books, crayons, colored pencils, play dough, construction paper and more! Most of the clothing items were provided in sizes from infant to adult.
The CAC provides children and adolescents the opportunity to receive treatment services such as medical exams and assessments, forensic interviews, professional consultation, trauma therapy, counseling, case review, case tracking, child advocacy services, child abuse awareness and prevention education.
“We want this to be viewed as a place of healing,” said Fundraising and Event Coordinator Rosemary Bohenek. “Every child deserves a happy childhood. We are a safe, positive place for children and adolescents to feel welcome, secure and most importantly – heard. Those who often feel shame, fear and guilt can speak of the unimaginable and then move forward with the healing process to improve their future quality of life.”
At Pathways, we made it a goal to collect as many supplies as we could to make sure these children and teens are better served during this emotional time in their lives. The CAC expresses that child abuse and neglect is a community problem and that childcare and protection is a community responsibility. Therefore, any contribution – big or small – will always be greatly appreciated!
It’s never too late to start doing your part for a child in need. Interested in donating an item off the CAC wish list? Click here to learn more.
