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Women’s Center brings hope to abused youth |
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Thursday, 29 March 2007 |
by TREVA CARTER
Intern Lifestyles
Many may not know that just 30 minutes away from Appalachian State University, there is a school giving children a new start and a chance to live a happy life.
Grandfather Academy was the first chartered school built in Banner Elk in 1997. Today the academy is celebrating its 10th year.
With ages ranging from 5 to 18 years old, these students hold one thing in common – they have all been abused.
Douglas V. Herman, the school director, has seen a lot of troubled youth come through the doors.
“Some of these kids come to us after being placed in eight to 10 foster families, hospitals and some
even from correctional facilities,” Herman said.
According to ChildHelp.com, there are over three million reports of
abuse made every year in the United States with the actual cases of
abuse and neglect being three times greater than those reported.
The study also showed that 36.7 percent of women in prison and 14.4 percent of men in prison have been abused as a child.
The Appalachian State Women’s Center has taken up the challenge to
provide the school with books. The Women’s Center had a bake sale
to collect money and donate as many books to the academy’s list as
possible. The bake sale has ended but they will continue to take book donations in the Women's Center until April 24.
This is the first time any group from Appalachian State has done a fundraiser for the Grandfather Academy.
“I was overjoyed when [the Women’s Center] asked me, ‘Was there
anything they could do to help out with the academy,’” Herman said.
With all the money the Women’s Center has collected so far, there is still some hesitation.
“I am concerned about the collection of books. I mean we have passed
the 100 [book] amount asked for in one donation, I just hope we can collect
the books that they asked for,” Natasha F. Wayne, a senior management major and co-coordinator for the project, said. “I am pleased with the turnout so far.
Normally [The Grandfather Children's Academy is] ignored by the campus, but I feel they understand what we’re trying to do.”
With the bake sale going on this week through April 24, each cupcake,
muffin and cookie are just 50 cents each, or people can make a monetary
donation.
Co-coordinators Wayne and Sarah E. Jones, a junior special educations major, hope to give the youth a reason to smile.
“The academy is trying to stop the cycle of abuse. Normally we reach
out to women, but these children are victims. They need help, and
that’s what we’re here to offer,” Jones said.
Even though some may view these youth as delinquents, Herman believes
that they can turn around with a little help from everybody.
“[I want to let the readers know] that we are out there to end the
cycle of abuse in the life of children,” Herman said. “That doesn’t
mean having to work here. It could mean or be something as little as
giving a book.”
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