Hollister
– The Chamberlain’s Children Center is looking for a few good
women and men to donate their most precious resource – two or three
hours of their time.
Hollister – The Chamberlain’s Children Center is looking for a few good women and men to donate their most precious resource – two or three hours of their time.
Chamberlain’s is conducting a volunteer drive for the first time in the center’s more than 30-year history, and is in serious need of people to help in a number of ways from planting and grounds projects to simply spending time with a child in need.
“We’re hoping to build up a base of around 100 or so volunteers,” said Mari Davis, president of the Chamberlain’s Board of Directors, “so that as projects come up we know who we can call and who will be interested in what projects.”
The center is a last-chance home for children with emotional or behavior issues – most are victims of severe child abuse – who cannot be placed in conventional foster care. Staff at the center focus on teaching social skills so that one day the children can attend public school and be placed with a family. Currently, 24 children between the ages of 6 and 17 reside at the center.
While the center constructed a new housing facility in 2000, most of the buildings on the premise are much older. One of the buildings was constructed in the late 1920s.
“It’s a state-funded program, but five years ago that funding was frozen,” Davis said. “So they haven’t received any money for cost of living increases, and they really need some extra help right now from the community.”
Moreover, added Executive Director Doreen Crumrine, getting the community involved with the children is one of the best things for them.
“We want to get our kids integrated with the community and with adults who can help them adjust to life in society,” she said. “But we can’t do it on our own.”
One way that locals can get involved is by volunteering to serve as a mentor. After undergoing a criminal background check and training from Chamberlain’s staff, a volunteer is paired up with a child to serve as their “special friend” and visit a few times a month or a few times a week.
“We really need people who are prepared to make a commitment to these kids,” Crumrine said. “If you just stopped showing up one day, it would be very psychologically damaging to them. They’ve had enough of adults disappearing from their lives.”
Crumrine stressed that mentors don’t need to lavish their kid with expensive presents; rather, the gift of a few hours of time is preferred.
“We’re not talking about Disneyland trips,” she said. “But taking a walk down to Taco Bell, going window shopping downtown or just hanging out and playing a board game is really important.”
Stacey Souza sits on the Board of Directors and also serves as a mentor to a 9-year-old girl. She describes the experience as incredibly rewarding, but acknowledged that prospective mentors need to be remarkably patient with their young charges.
“We’ve made so much progress in the past couple months, but sometimes it seems like we take 20 steps forward and then 50 steps back,” she said. “I call daily to talk to her, to talk to the staff, so that I know all of the new challenges in her life. In a lot of ways I feel like I’m raising my kids again, and racking my brain to figure out how to make things ‘click’ for her.”
For those unable to serve as a mentor, Chamberlain’s is also looking for help installing a new playground and planting new shrubs and trees, as well as people who can help organize special parties or events for the children. Two positions on the Board of Directors are also available for those interested in taking a leadership role within the organization.
“People with a mental health background or who have taught children with special needs are ideal, but we’re looking for people from all sorts of diverse backgrounds,” said Davis. “We have something for everybody who wants to help.”
For more information call Crumrine at 636-2121 or Davis at 637-1100.
Danielle Smith covers education for the Free Lance. Reach her at 637-5566, ext. 336 or [email protected].
