Kate from Babylune is hosting a group writing project called Generous December. She is asking that we write about our favorite charity, social cause or helpful organization. We have from now until 11:59 on December 19 to submit a post to her. The author of the winning post, the one that is most persuasive in convincing her of the organization’s effectiveness and importance of the need it addresses, will receive nothing. Instead, she will make a donation in their name to the charity or cause they have designated in their post.

I have several charities that are close to my heart but since I’ve been sharing my personal story of parental emotional abuse I’ve chosen a local charity that is dedicated to preventing and treating child abuse.

The Family Resource Center was established in 1974, and provides therapeutic and support services to nearly 10,000 children and parents each year. They help children and families in which some form of child abuse or neglect has occurred as well as those who are at risk of abuse occurring in their homes.

They do this by:
• Helping struggling families become strong, healthy, and stable
• Helping sad and frightened children heal from the trauma of abuse and neglect
• Helping parents become more confident and nurturing caregivers
• Providing supportive treatment services to abused and neglected children
• Breaking the cycle of abuse

FRC employs a comprehensive continuum of programs and services in their mission to help children recover from past abuse and neglect, while also alleviating the many factors that can trigger abuse, and empowering families to stop or prevent the cycle of abuse.

FRC provides family-centered services designed to heal, empower and build upon each family’s natural strengths. They also provide practical problem-solving assistance to alleviate the many triggers of abuse and neglect, including economic, psychological, and “inherited” behavioral factors.

I wish I had known about FRC in my early teens when I realized that my parents parenting style was not only abnormal but in fact abusive and neglectful. Who knows, maybe we could have been helped. What I do know is that FRC is helping many families repair and heal from their fractured relationships and in turn stopping the cycle of abuse. That makes me very happy. Every child deserves to have a home where they feel safe and loved. For some it is only a dream. Won’t you help them make it a reality?

Donations and volunteers are always needed. The St. Louis Volunteer Resource Parents matches pregnant/parenting young women and young fathers with trained volunteer mentors to offer emotional support and parenting techniques during and after pregnancy. It’s an excellent program that I plan to volunteer for once Marigrace is in school full-time when I’ll have more time to commit to being a mentor.

Another way you can make donations to FRC or many other organizations is by shopping at Target. Whenever my hubby gives me a hard time about how much I spend at Target I remind him that a percentage of our money is going to good causes. It’s hard for him to argue with that.

Target is great about giving back to the community. Many charities and organizations have wish lists at Target. You can access these wish lists by visiting Target.com and clicking on Target Lists at the top. Choose advanced search and enter the organizations name in the box. Just another reason why I love Target.

Thank you Kate for reminding us to be generous this holiday season.

Related posts:

1. My Super Sweet Sixteen
2. “This baby’s been beat”
3. Gotta read this!
4. Children don’t belong in a hot car
5. Why can’t we get this parenting gig right?