(Seguin) — A recent social media post by the Guadalupe County Children’s Advocacy Center is highlighting the growing financial challenges facing local families as well as a closer look at the behind-the-scenes support that the nonprofit provides well after child abuse is reported.
The center recently shared the story of a family in crisis on its Facebook page. It read We have a family in need! we don’t normally do this, but we have been calling on so many resources with no luck. Will you make a one time donation on our website gccac.net to support a mother and her four children who have no where to go right now?”
In addition to the one time help for this family of five, the post was also encouraging donations to its client aid fund, which provides emergency financial assistance for families served by the organization when other resources are unavailable.
Executive Director Christy Williams says the center created the fund specifically to help families overcome financial barriers that often follow reports of child abuse.
“We have a fund that we raise funds specifically to assist families,” said Williams. “We make sure that they are linked up with as many resources as we possibly can here in the community, and when we can’t find a resource that will support them, that’s when we dig into that fund.”
Williams says the advocacy center previously held a bowling fundraiser dedicated to the client aid fund, but that event was no longer generating enough support and has not been held in about 18 months. Despite no longer doing the fundraiser, she says the organization has continued to help families meet urgent needs.
However before providing direct financial assistance, she says the center first connects families with agencies such as the Salvation Army, Community Council of South Central Texas (RECAP), Christian Cupboard and the New Braunfels Food Bank.
But like many nonprofits, Williams says they “too are facing increased demand as families struggle with today’s economic conditions.”
“I have always gotten requests from our staff to support families, but I am getting them much more regularly now and much more urgently,” said Williams. “We’re having clients facing eviction because they are not able to keep up. Between our fund and all of the resources in the community, we’ve been able to help, but what we’re seeing now is that people are just really, really struggling. I don’t really think people know that.”
Williams says unforuantley those financial hardships can become yet another obstacle for children who need to report abuse.
“We’re here and we’re talking to them, and it’s a confidential situation where they are bearing their soul to us,” said Williams. “It’s also those economic things. These are all barriers to kids telling about what’s happening if they know that without this person their bills aren’t going to be paid and they’re not going to have a place to live. That’s all the more reason for kids not to talk about what’s been going on with them. So if there’s any way that we can help to make sure that kids can say that something’s happening to them and then also not be homeless, by all means, that’s what we need to do.”
The Guadalupe County Children’s Advocacy Center is accepting donations to its client aid fund through links available on its website and social media pages. Donations can also be made by calling 830-303-4760.