Make a Difference this week: Womanline needs art supplies, more

Each week, Meredith Moss profiles a non-profit organization in our community and its specific needs. If your group has a wish list it would like to share, contact Meredith: MMoss@coxohio.com

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Meredith and her “Make a Difference” column have been honored with the first “Friend of Philanthropy” award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

Womanline of Dayton has served the Greater Dayton area and surrounding counties for more than 43 years. In the organization’s early days, many of the women who sought help from the non-profit had been sexually molested as children.

“Today our mission is to help women overcome the trauma of childhood sexual abuse, and teach young children how to protect themselves from abuse,” explains the group’s executive director Maggie Summers. “We envision a community where children grow up safe from abuse and survivors have hope of being emotionally, socially and spiritually whole once again.”

According to Womanline, it is estimated there are over 39 million adults in this country who were sexually abused as children. “We have in the past put the burden on our children to come to us if something happens to them,” says Summers. But still today one in 10 children are sexually molested and most do not come forward and disclose what has happened to them.”

Womanline sponsors a sex-abuse awareness program called “I Can Tell,” which is taken into elementary schools for kindergarten through fifth-grade students. “In realizing that many of our client’s children also have emotional issues, we added two new services to our center,” Summers says. “We now offer therapy for preteen adolescent boys and girls along with an adult sexual abuse prevention program.”

The adult program, “Steward of Children,” is taught by a facilitator certified from the national “Darkness to Light” organization. Womanline offers the training at its location or members of the community can take the training to their own site.

“This is an amazing program, and the benefits are tremendous,” says Summers. “Teachers, nurses, coaches, Sunday school teachers, or anyone that is involved with kids through their work will — if they qualify — get Continuing Education Credits. It is an evidence-informed, proactive approach to child sexual abuse prevention.” The two-hour program features a combination of survivor stories, expert advice and practical guidance. The class is free but comes with a $15 workbook.

Summers says the adult program can create awareness of the ways in which adults need to be proactive to protect our children. “The outcome will be fewer adults and children walking around carrying the pain and shame of childhood trauma that will have a lifelong effect,” she says.

While “I Can Tell” and the “Steward of Children “programs are independent of one another, Summers says they work hand-in- hand. ” It is not enough to just tell our kids what to do, or how to respond if someone tries to abuse them,” she explains. “While that serves them well if they understand what is happening, with a combination of both programs we are able to take some of that responsibility away from our children and place the burden where it belongs — on the adults.”

WHAT THEY NEED:

Womanline is always in need of supplies for its expressive art therapy projects. “We received many donations of art supplies after the last Make a Difference column,” says Summers. She’s hoping our readers will respond once again.

You can also help by proving the funds to purchase the $15 workbook that goes along with the “Steward of Children” program for those who can’t afford it. Volunteers are always needed to do tasks ranging from reception work to light office duties and fund-raising.

Items can be taken to the Womanline offices between the hours of 9 a. m, to 4 p.m. weekdays. Offices are located at 4617 Presidential Way, Kettering. Phone: (937) 223-3446.

Project Read

Laura Mlazovsky, executive director of Project Read, wrote to thank our readers for the feedback her organization has received from the recent Make a Difference column.

“I thought you would be pleased to know that we received 12 boxes of books yesterday as a direct result of your story, and received several other calls and emails from potential book donors,” she wrote. “Our community really likes to help, and your column makes it easy for them to contribute! Thanks so much!”