For the Kids

A few weeks ago, I read A Child Called "It". If you've never heard of it, it's a true story about David Pelzer and one of the worst child abuse cases in California. In 1991, there were over 2.5 million cases reported. The book got me thinking about all those kids, and I decided I was going to do something to help them. Unfortunately, there's only so much a person or organization can do. Anyone with half a brain knows that child abuse, or any sort of abuse is wrong, but that obviously doesn't stop a lot of people. I suppose trying to start more prevention programs could possibly help, but I don't have the know-how to do that. So I've been searching for somthing I could do to help child abuse victims, and I finally came up with the perfect idea last night.

I was laying in bed, thinking back to David and how he got out of his abusive environment. He was taken straight from school and never went back to his house. I imagine that's the way many cases are handled to prevent the abuser from taking the kid or kids before the authorites can get them. Anyway, most kids probably don't have a chance to get stuff from their house before leaving, whether it be a stuffed animal, a blanket, a picture, whatever, and I'm sure they'd like somthing comforting to help with the journey.

So I came up with the idea to start a program that collects toys, backpacks, coloring books, crayons, blankets, clothes, whatever they may need to get them started. It could be completely based on donations, and if people want to give money, that's fine. The more means, the better.
Then I got to thinking,

"It's gonna suck big time if someone already thought of this".

And that's when it hit me. Someone did. I remember reading about it in Chicken Soup for the Preteen Soul. So I assumed I was back at square numero uno, but just when I was about to give the whole thing up, I realized I could try to contact the person that started the original program, and with her permission, I could maybe start a branch here, and/or where-ever I end up. I'm sure she wouldn't mind. Actually I think she'd welcome the help.
Time to make a difference.