Bubbles over barriers

I like to listen to audio books during my daily commute.  It makes me forget the stresses of my job and pulls me into a story that’s more interesting than my own.  Audio books are one of several ways I escape the everyday pressures of life.  I also love sitting on my porch swing or taking a long walk.  It’s easy to live life in a bubble when the most challenging part of your day is getting caught in rush hour traffic.

Emily Claudé, CCFI Board President

But I’ve recently come to realize that my reality would be a welcome escape for many parents and children in our community.  There are countless families right here in Norman who are experiencing daily stressors that are difficult for me to even comprehend.  Forget audio books and porch swings, there are parents in this community who don’t have the support necessary to be able to provide a safe, nurturing, loving environment for their children.

A few years ago, my metaphorical bubble was burst when a little boy came into my office on an ordinary summer day.  A man carried him in and told us he found him wandering on the road.  He called him “Fred.”  The boy couldn’t have been more than four years old, and my coworkers and I took turns playing with him.  Although he seemed happy, there was something heartbreaking about this little boy. He could only communicate in babbles and gestures.  He was soaked in sweat, had a heavy diaper, and had clearly been outside for a long time.  When the police arrived, they told us he hadn’t been reported missing.  I couldn’t believe it: The parents of this sweet, vulnerable child hadn’t even noticed he was gone. 

There are hundreds of children like Fred right here in Norman, but most of them never wander outside the walls of their own home and into the arms of a caring adult.  The little boy who walked innocently into my office that day couldn’t speak for himself.  And even if he could, would he know what to say?  We all have different gifts we can contribute to the cause.  You may have contacts in the community with the ability to make change, you may have time to volunteer, or you may have resources you can donate.  But we can all speak up for Fred.

Four years ago, the Center for Children and Families, Inc. (CCFI) gave me a chance to invest in its mission and to be a part of something important happening in this community - something life-altering.  There are struggles, yes.  But there are successes too.  And there is no bigger success story than CCFI.  The Center for Children and Families isn’t afraid of taking chances, making changes, and investing in the future of this community and all of the little Freds in it.

So I will continue to drive to work every day in my bubble, listening to the imaginary world of my most recent audio-read.  But every day I will emerge with hope and growing compassion for those whose escape from reality is through the doors of CCFI.  I’m grateful for the opportunity the Centerfor Children and Families has given me to invest my time and resources in such a worthy cause. 

I am privileged to be a part of an organization that encourages blowing bubbles, not building barriers.

- Emily Claudé, CCFI Board of Directors President

Be careful what you wish for

In the fall of 2010 I was talking with an old friend who was inquiring on how things were going in my life. I happen to be very blessed because for a day job I get to fly business jets all over the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean. Alright, it’s not as glamorous as it may sound (at least, that’s what I tell people) but it does keep me from sitting behind a desk and it usually keeps me out of trouble. I told my friend, Mike, that flying was rather slow at the moment and I had been looking for a small project to keep me busy. Mike is not only a Chaplin for Norman Regional Health System but he also sits on the board for the Center for Children and Families, Inc. (CCFI), an organization that sadly, up until that moment, I knew very little about. He told me about a conversation that he recently had with CCFI’s Executive Director Katie Fitzgerald, she had remarked to Mike that one of the needs that they had at the agency was for someone who could help out with a few handyman duties here and there. Well, we’ve all heard the phrase “be careful what you wish for, you might just get it”… and boy, did I get it. I definitely received more than I could have ever expected and my outlook on life will never be the same.

From day one my “Honey Do List” has seemed to just always have a task on it. I have painted doors, walls, ceilings, cabinets, shelves, and the occasional spot on the floor – woops! - along with anything else that would stay still for more than a few minutes. I have hung pictures, photos, diplomas, calendars, paintings, mirrors, bulletin boards, fire extinguishers, clothing rods, curtains, blinds, battery operated lights, fans, Christmas lights, and a giant blue ribbon which I had to designed and built as well. I have spread mulch over the play area, power washed the eves, fixed both gates, built a toy cabinet, repaired numerous desk drawers and children’s chairs, created two large cork boards, built a frame for a bathroom mirror, used enough painters tape to stretch from here to the moon (slight exaggeration), and generally anything else that the wonderful folks at CCFI could come up with. Phew!

This might sound like a long laundry list, but it’s not my intention to paint a bleak picture. The fact is CCFI is a nonprofit organization that has a tremendous task to fulfill and a very tight budget with which to accomplish this undertaking. And within these tight constraints I am continually amazed at the amount energy that the staff at CCFI shows, on a daily basis, to those who are less fortunate and often, overlooked in our society due to no fault of their own. Every time I have the pleasure to visit CCFI, I am continually reminded of the blessings that have been bestowed upon me and these blessings come with an obligation.

Those of us who are blessed have a duty to share those blessings with those who have been less fortunate. On numerous occasions I have been told that the staff has struggled with how they could show their appreciation for the work that I have done. However, they do that very thing, in volumes, with how much care they show for each and every individual that walks through their doors. It’s a job that quite often goes unnoticed and underappreciated, but they do it every day with a song in their hearts and a spring in their step. For me that’s all the thanks that I need. I feel that I am blessed to be a very small part of such a wonderful organization, and on occasion, they even feed me. What else could a single guy ask for?

So, if you find yourself with a little spare time and would like to reach out to those who need it most, by all means give them a call and I guarantee you will be forever changed by the lives that you will touch, or more likely, the lives that will touch you. And who knows, if you’re really lucky, you might even get to work with me. I mean, anything is possible.

- Brian Krause, CCFI 'Handyman' Volunteer

What I've learned from volunteering

Mollie pictured on right

I began volunteering for the Center for Children and Families, Inc. (CCFI) just a few short months ago, and oh has it been a ride! I came into the children’s play group on Tuesday night’s not having a clue what to expect. I was a little apprehensive, but felt immediately comfortable when I met the other volunteers. Everyone was so nice and seemed genuinely passionate about what they were doing. That is when I knew CCFI was special.

I quickly learned that CCFI is an organization that cares so fervently about making a real difference in the community. The entire staff and volunteers love what they do, and it reads so clearly in the manner with which they go about their work. Having the opportunity to contribute just a small portion of my time to the unique mission of CCFI has really humbled me.

I love watching how excited the kiddos are to see us every Tuesday night, and how equally excited we are to see them. These kids remember us and depend on us to be there, and that is why I keep coming back. I know that just the little amount of time I spend with them each week helps bring stability and consistency into their lives, which is something I can be proud of. I learn as much from these kids as I hope they learn from me, and I will continue to volunteer with CCFI for as long as I am able.

I am more than honored to be part of this special organization, and to help support their compassionate mission to improve the lives of children. I feel extremely blessed to have stumbled across CCFI because of the perspective it has brought to my life. 

I encourage every person to support the mission of CCFI in any way that they can. I have no doubt it will enrich and touch your life in the way that it has done so to mine.

Mollie Rischard 

CCFI Children's Group Volunteer

This April...

Promote Happier Childhoods

Across our neighborhoods, community and state we want to see love in place of the abuse that shatters the lives of more than 8,000 children in Oklahoma annually.

Abuse is an epidemic affecting our entire state — taking the lives of too many children — yet no one wants to talk about the topic of child abuse. Moreover many people are just not aware of child abuse, its signs or that they can and must speak up – because it may save a child’s life.

Starting today, we want to inspire you to begin conversations and attract attention to the cause and join CCFI in promoting happier childhoods across our community for National Child Abuse Prevention Month during Apri

Show your support. Help us prevent child abuse.

Host a diaper drive

Donate/collect diapers of all sizes for our Baby Pantry at CCFI. Help us keep little bottoms covered, clean and dry. Tell your friends, family, neighbors and coworkers to join you or do the same!

Go BLUE

Since 1989, thousands of people nationwide wear the blue ribbon to create awareness of the need to keep kids safe and families strong. Get all the information for blue ribbon and children abuse prevention awareness initiatives here.  

Join Us

Join us at the Capitol as we meet with legislators and showcase prevention efforts in our community. Please come by and visit our booth, we'd be glad to answer any questions or to have your help! For more information on Child Abuse Prevention Day at the Capitol click here.

Lend Your Voice

Get involved as an individual by:

Write your state or federal elected officials to advocate for greater healthy child development and child abuse prevention funding. After all, child development is a building block for community development and economic development, things we all believe in.

Get involved as a local organization by:

·         Joining Child Abuse Prevention Month activities in April.

·         Incorporating child abuse prevention into your work.

·         Discussing child abuse prevention at your conferences and meetings.

·         Contacting us to explore the possibilities.

Get involved as a company by:

·         Having change canisters, pinups, or electronic donation opportunities for customers.

·         Sponsoring awareness activities in the community.  

·         Printing messages on your bags or insert bill-stuffers to bring attention to this issue.

·         Inviting your employees to show their support by building a blue ribbon tree.

·         Creating a pinwheel garden on your company's premises in April to show your support during Child Abuse Prevention Month.

·         Contributing your company's professional expertise to help us advance this campaign and our organization's mission.

·         Donating or supporting the purchase of advertising space to help continue getting the word out.

If you have any questions or would like any more information about the content above, contact Stacy Hawthorne at shawthorne@ccfinorman.org or call 405-364-1420.

Will you be my... Volunteer?

Here at the Center for Children and Families, Inc. (CCFI), we offer rewarding volunteer experiences for people of all ages who want to make a difference in 2012!

As a leading resource for families in Norman and surrounding areas, we depend on our strong volunteer network to help mentor youth, staff therapeutic play groups, help with daily administrative tasks, and more. Fortunately for our services at CCFI, a popular New Year’s resolution for many is to focus on others and make time in the new year to volunteer.

As 2012 unfolds we expect to see an increase of children and families in need of the support and tools our programs offer. Serving roughly 2,000 members of the community during 2011 - nearly 300 more than the previous year - the need for more volunteers remains a primary concern for CCFI.

Volunteers support everything we do in our efforts to heal children, empower youth, and strengthen families. We want to thank the hundreds of individuals who help shape our work in a variety of ways every day, and encourage others to join them in impacting the lives of children and youth in our community.

In 2011, 435 volunteers gave a combined 8,000 hours of their time to our mission. Without volunteers, many of the services we provide would not be viable. With 250 children and youth served each week in our Neighborhood Centers after-school programs, volunteers are crucial for making sure that the children and youth have a safe, enriching environment with positive, adult mentors during their out-of-school time.

Neighborhood Centers

Applying to volunteer at CCFI is fast and simple- sign up online here

No matter if it’s an hour, day, week or year-long commitment, we are interested in providing meaningful opportunities for those who want to make a difference in the lives of others.  Potential volunteers and all community members and groups are also invited to tour the agency during one of our regularly scheduled monthly tours.  For more information or tour dates visit www.ccfinorman.org.