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By Rose Hooper
Children are the link to stop the cycle of domestic violence,
said REACH Executive Director Jean Bockstahler.
As part of its 25th anniversary celebration, the non-profit serving
victims of domestic violence and sexual assault will focus on
children this Friday, Sept. 19.
Childrens' Day will be observed Friday from 3:30-5:30 p.m. at
the REACH Thrift Store. Judy LeRoy, director of REACH's new Children's
Center, is managing this event, with assistance from Western Carolina
University's Phi Alpha honor society.
Face painting will be offered to all children in the store. An
art table will be set up for children to participate in an art
contest. They can share their vision of what the new Children's
Counseling Center logo suggests to them. REACH will provide materials.
Two age categories will be judged, ages 4-8 and 9-13, with one
winner selected from each age group, along with several honorable
mentions. Judges will be Alan Bagshaw, WCU intern; Joanne Cleary,
former REACH board member; and Kristie Smith, DSS family intervention
worker.
Winners will receive ribbons and a $50 savings bond from Macon
Bank. Honorable mentions will receive ribbons and fast-food
coupons. All participating children will receive a goodie bag.
Winning art work will be hung at the Children's Center located
at the REACH Village off Plum Street.
On Tuesday, Sept. 23, the actual 25th anniversary date of the
organization, REACH invites the community to join in the celebration.
From 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. REACH board members will serve free
hot dogs, courtesy of SoHo Grill, and drinks, courtesy of Pepsi,
at the Thrift Store. WRGC Radio will broadcast live from the store
at 86 E. Main Street.
Tuesday's event will launch REACH's 25th Anniversary Campaign,
whose theme is "Blowing the Whistle on Domestic Violence
and Sexual Assault."
During the live broadcast any customer who enters the thrift store,
blows her whistle and says, "I want to blow the whistle on
domestic violence and sexual assault," will receive a 25
percent discount on her purchase.
At other times during the celebration week, when a customer blows
her whistle and says, "I want to blow the whistle on domestic
violence and sexual assault," she can register for a free
gift donated by local businesses.
Winners' names will be posted in the store Friday, Sept. 26.
Also, throughout September when customers pay for their purchases,
they can select one key from the key jar. Several of the keys
will unlock the treasure chest.
When customers open the lock, they get to draw one envelope from
the chest. The envelope will contain a certificate for either
a wrapped gift, one from the REACH Thrift Store or from a local
business.
For more information about these events, call Norma McClure, REACH
Thrift Store manager, at 586-8778.
For information on REACH services, call 631-4488.
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