APRIL IS CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION AWARENESS MONTH

It shouldn’t hurt to be a child.

An average of four children dies everyday in this country as a result of child abuse or neglect. Children of all ages experience abuse and neglect, but the youngest children are most vulnerable and most likely to die from maltreatment.

Child abuse is a community tragedy.

Everyday Blessings asks you to join the community of support for their work to find safe, stable and permanent homes for abused and neglected children.

The month of April is designated as Child Abuse Prevention Month.

It is a time to focus on the protection and care of our most vulnerable and trusting citizens- the children in our communities. It is a month devoted to celebrating everything we can do to create a culture of prevention.

• Help a stressed out parent to cope.
• Encourage your company to support child abuse non-profit agencies like Everyday Blessings.
• Participate in fund raising events to support programs serving abused children.
• Donate in honor or in memory of family members or friends to agencies like Everyday Blessings.
• Do a simple fund raiser for Everyday Blessings; host a party (anything from card parties to dinners) and ask participants to come prepared to donate to our work.
• Make a donation to Everyday Blessings, and get your company to match your gift.
• Foster children so need a loving, safe place to live. Become a foster parent.
• Adopt children and give them the “forever home they so desperately need.

You are invited to COME AND SEE. Everyday Blessings is located in northeast Hillsborough County off of Hwy. 301 near McIntosh Road. Call (813) 982-9226 to plan a visit.

A Lesson Learned

Remember the old lemonade stand of childhood? My daughter, Alex and her best friend, Valerie, both nine years old, wanted to set up a lemonade stand in front of my house. We live on the thirteenth hole of the Temple Terrace Golf Course, so I suggested that they set up their stand on the tee of that hole. One Sunday morning we made lemonade and fresh baked cookies and they set up their stand. Initially they were doing it just for the fun, until they made $35 in two hours. They decided that they should put that much money to good use.

The way they got hooked up with Everyday Blessings was through my small involvement. I am on a rotation that picks up bread at Panera's and delivers it to EB. I called and found out the project needed "Welcome Kits." That sounded like a great idea because it was something they could relate to; they could buy the things and put the kits together.

After two outings of selling lemonade and cookies, they made $75.00. They took the money, went to the store and bought everything they felt was needed for the "Welcome Kits."

They have really learned a lot from the experience. Being a Guardian ad Litem, Alex hears me talk about life in a shelter, but having the opportunity to personally experience it has had an enormous effect. They realized that not everyone has it as good as they do. They are sill talking about their visit. They really enjoyed playing with the children. The time spent with the kids helped them to put faces with "Welcome Kits" which made it even more meaningful. They can't wait to go back. I really feel this very positive experience has started them on the path of continued community service for the rest of their lives.  By Sandy Piccirilli

Calendar of Events

Everyday Blessings
P.O. Box 1264, Thonotosassa, Florida 33592
Phone 813-982-9226 - Fax 813-986-0298 - Email everydayblessings@everybless.org

This initial website was produced with the generous assistance of the Children's Board of Hillsborough County.

Everyday Blessings is a Florida licensed child placing agency providing services to birth parents, adoptive/foster parents and, especially to children involved in the adoption process. It has complied with the standards set by the State of Florida, Department of Children and Families, for a child placing agency. As such it is licensed to operate as a child placing agency and this license shall continue in force and be renewed on the 25th day of July of each year. Our services are sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of Children and Families. Other sponsors include the Children's Board of Hillsborough County as well as numerous foundations, corporations and individuals. Everyday Blessings is a program of St. Francis Foundation, Inc., a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit Florida corporation. All donations are tax deductible.