No act of kindness is too small.

Many stories come to us through our front doors, and for all of those who have helped a little bottom by donating to our Baby Pantry, THIS is your impact: 

Dear Center for Children and Families,

Last winter, about every other week, I came to get pull-ups from your Baby Pantry for my grandson.  I was out of work and felt really ashamed that I had to do this and I got really down on myself.  But, at your agency there is a pretty lady that always greets me and gets me diapers and wipes when I come in for a little help. I told her how embarrassed I was and she assured me that ‘it’s okay, everyone needs help sometimes.’  She has always been nothing but nice to me and even took the time to walk me to the unemployment office one day.  

(not an actual client pictured above)

During February of last year, I was really depressed and was ready to give up on life and leave my daughter and her son to get along without me.  The lady that sits up front had roses on her desk for Valentine’s Day that I could smell as soon as I walked in the front doors. I commented on how great they smelled and told her no one had ever given me flowers before. She looked me in the eyes, gave me one of her roses and told me I was special. Nobody has ever treated me that nicely before and I really think she was my miracle because that simple act made me feel like it was all worth it. 

Some time has passed since then and I go to counseling now. I have come a long way and got through some rough times because of the nice people at the Center for Children and Families.  Someday, when I have more money, I am going to bring pull-ups and a flower to repay you guys.  In the mean time, thank you for your help. It means the world to me, and others that need it, to have your help.

-D

To learn more about our Baby Pantry services, click here.

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

Kindness... Pass it on.

Today is Valentine's Day...Which automatically causes us to think of: chocolates, flowers, and sharing heartfelt expressions from, well...our hearts! 

But, did you also know that it is:  

Random Acts of Kindness (RAK) Week?

Yep. And here at the Center for Children and Families, Inc. (CCFI) we are no strangers to kindness. We see it every day from every corner of our community. It is contagious and inspirational. It keeps our staff going and then, in turn, is passed on to the children, youth and families we serve. These benefits ripple out from the lives of individual women, men, girls, and boys to their families, their neighborhoods, the community... and ultimately, to the entire world. 

Each and every one of us has the ability to change the world by touching lives through acts of kindness. And when we see these acts or hear stories about the positive things others are doing, we become more aware of the opportunities we have to make a difference for the people around us. Random Acts of Kindness (RAK) week is an opportunity for each of us to reflect upon and stimulate even more kindness in our lives. So, whether it's at CCFI, in your home, workplace, neighborhood, or even at the grocery store we hope you will continue to pass it on. 

More about Random Act of Kindness Week »